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Hartslag Limburg (Heartbeat Limburg)

An Evidence-Based Practice

Description

Hartslag Limburg (Heartbeat Limburg) is a cardiovascular disease prevention program. The intervention uses community-based health promotion to reduce the prevalence of cardiovascular disease in the general population by encouraging inhabitants to become more active, reduce their fat intake, and stop smoking. The program integrates a population-wide strategy aimed at all inhabitants and a subgroup strategy focused on individuals with multiple physical risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Municipal authorities, the Regional Public Health Institute Maastrict, community social work organizations, and regional community healthcare organizations collaborate through nine local health committees that organize activities to promote and facilitate healthy lifestyles. Between 1999 and 2003, 790 interventions were implemented, including computer-tailored nutrition education, nutrition education tours in supermarkets, television programs, food clubs, walking and cycling campaigns, and smoking cessation campaigns. A multimedia campaign to promote heart health includes brochures, newspaper columns, a daily TV exercise program, radio commercials, and billboards.

Goal / Mission

The goal of the Hartslag Limburg intervention is to reduce heart disease among low-income, high-risk community members.

Results / Accomplishments

This intervention was studied using a cohort study comparing the 5-year mean change in risk factors between the intervention community and a control community. Individuals in the intervention community reduced or prevented age- and time-related increase in body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, blood pressure, and non-fasting serum glucose concentration. Risk factors changed unfavorably in the reference group. The adjusted difference in mean change in these risk factors between intervention and reference group was significant (p < 0.05). The intervention group also significantly decreased fat intake and increased physical activity intentions.

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
National Institute for Public Health and the Environment
Primary Contact
Jantine Schuit, PhD
National Institute for Public Health and the Environment
P.O. Box 1, 3720 BA
Bilthoven, The Netherlands
+31 30 2742945
jantine.schuit@rivm.nl
http://www.rivm.nl/en/
Topics
Health / Heart Disease & Stroke
Health / Physical Activity
Organization(s)
National Institute for Public Health and the Environment
Source
American Journal of Preventive Medicine
Date of publication
Mar 2006
Date of implementation
1999
Location
Maastricht, Netherlands
For more details
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16476640?itool=...

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An Evidence-Based Practice meets the following HCI criteria:

  1. The program description includes at a minimum: the sponsoring organization, program goals, program implementation steps, and outcomes that have demonstrated program success in achieving the program goal in one or more localities.
  2. The results from an evaluation of the program include quantitative measures showing improvement in the outcome(s) of interest after the implementation of the program (i.e. increase in smoking cessation, not just the delivery of a smoking cessation program). The outcome measure(s) is/are compared at relevant time periods before and after the intervention or program implementation. Alternatively, the evaluation study compares the outcome(s) between an intervention group and an appropriate control group.
  3. The study is of peer-review quality and presents numbers in a scientific manner; measurements of precision and reliability are included (e.g. confidence intervals, standard errors), results from statistical tests show a significant difference or change in the outcome measure(s), and relevant point estimates and p-values are presented. Note: if the results from an evaluation of a program are presented in a scientific manner and the outcome measure is improved compared to the baseline measurement or the control group but the difference is not statistically significant, the practice is classified as effective and not evidence-based.
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