Hypertension, Smoking Cessation
Conditions
Brief summary
Investigators conducted a clinic-based study to determine the magnitude of uncontrolled hypertension and current smoking in eye doctor's offices and sought to determine if referral to care results in actions taken by the patient.
Detailed description
Smoking and hypertension are two modifiable risk factors that are linked to highly prevalent chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The ophthalmology waiting room has the potential to be an effective point of intervention to provide referral to primary care in addition to health education on preventive health topics. The investigators therefore, conducted a clinic-based study to determine the magnitude of uncontrolled hypertension and current smoking in eye doctor's offices and to determine if referral to care results in actions taken by the patient. The investigators determined the proportion of patients who have elevated blood pressure. Patients were referred appropriately and the proportion of participants who followed the recommendation to meet with their primary care doctor for elevated blood pressure at 4-6 weeks and 8-10 weeks was determined. In addition, those who consented to be in the study and admitted to smoking cigarettes were offered smoking cessation assistance through a quit line. Investigators also followed up on cigarette smoking at 4-6 weeks and 8-10 weeks.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALReferral to primary care physician for hypertension control
Referral to primary care physician for hypertension control
BEHAVIORALReferral to smoking quit line
Referral to Maryland Tobacco/Smoking quit line for help with smoking cessation
Sponsors
Johns Hopkins University
Study design
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SCREENING
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Patients \>18 years of age presenting to the glaucoma service and general eye service at Wilmer Eye Institute.
Exclusion criteria
* Non-English speakers * Unable to provide written informed consent
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Proportion of patients with elevated blood pressure | 1 day (at study clinic visit) |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Proportion of patients that are current smokers | 1 day (at study clinic visit) |
| Proportion of patients with elevated blood pressure that sought referral care | From study visit to 10 weeks after |
| Proportion of patients that were current smokers that sought referral quit line assistance | From study visit to 10 weeks after |
Outcome results
None listed