Healthy rural hearts: The feasibility of a telehealth nutrition randomised controlled trial for rural people at risk of cardiovascular disease

• Published in: Journal of telemedicine and telecare 2024-04, p.1357633X241247245-1357633X241247245
• Main Authors: Herbert, Jaimee, Schumacher, Tracy, Brown, Leanne J, Clarke, Erin D, Collins, Clare E
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1357-633X; 1758-1109
• DOI: 10.1177/1357633X241247245

Improving dietary patterns using medical nutrition therapy delivered via telehealth could make an effective contribution to reducing cardiovascular disease burden in rural Australia. However, it is important that medical nutrition therapy programmes are developed in collaboration with rural stakeholders, to increase feasibility for the rural context and the likelihood of successful implementation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the preliminary feasibility outcomes of integration (implementation), practicality, acceptability, demand, and preliminary effectiveness at the 3-month timepoint of the Healthy Rural Hearts randomised control trial. Feasibility measures were collected from participants in the Healthy Rural Hearts medical nutrition therapy trial. Study participants were patients from eligible primary care practices who had been assessed by their general practitioner as being at moderate to high risk of developing cardiovascular disease in the next five years. The sample in this analysis includes those who had completed the first 3-months of the study. Feasibility outcomes were measured over the first 3-months of the trial intervention. A process evaluation survey was used to collect measures relating to intervention implementation, practicality, acceptability, and demand. Completion rates of the Australian Eating Survey Heart version, Personalised Nutrition Questionnaire, pathology tests and telehealth medical nutrition therapy consultations delivered by Accredited Practising Dietitians were also used to measure intervention practicality. Preliminary effectiveness was evaluated by comparing the intervention group's dietary change, measured using Australian Eating Survey Heart with data from the control group. A total of 105 participants (75 intervention, 30 control participants) were eligible for inclusion in analysis. Attendance rates at the first 3-months of dietitian consultations ranged from 94.7% to 89.3% between the first and 3-month consultations, and most participants were able to complete the Australian Eating Survey Heart and Personalised Nutrition Questionnaire prior to their initial consultation [Australian Eating Survey Heart (  = 57, 76%) and Personalised Nutrition Questionnaire (  = 61, 81.3%)] and the Australian Eating Survey Heart prior to their 3-month consultation (  = 52, 69.3%). Of the participants who completed a pathology test at the 3-month time-point (  = 54, 72%), less than half were able to do so prior to their dieti