Pay Attention to Hypertension (PAtH): Findings from a cardiovascular health promotion intervention for adults with intellectual disabilities participating in Special Olympics programming.
R E Ponce-Alcala, A Cuerrier, L Sanzone and 3 others
PMID 39415465WHAT IT FOUND
Blood pressure did not improve after this 6-month virtual health programme for adults with intellectual disabilities.
However, participants gained confidence in monitoring their own blood pressure and speaking to their doctors about it. Most found the programme helpful.
Key findings
01The primary outcomes of mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure showed no significant change from baseline to follow-up.
02Participants significantly improved their knowledge of how to monitor blood pressure and their confidence in speaking to healthcare providers.
03There were no statistically significant changes in physical activity levels or screen time, though trends were positive.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
There was no control group, so it is impossible to know if changes were due to the intervention or other factors. The sample size was smaller than expected, which reduced the study's power to detect small effects. Attrition was high; 94 started, but only 66 completed the follow-up blood pressure logbook. Data on physical activity, screen time, and diet were self-reported and prone to error. The intervention was delivered by novice nurses and nursing students, which may have affected the quality of delivery compared to experienced clinicians. The study population was recruited from Special Olympics, who may already be more health-conscious than the general population of people with intellectual disabilities.
Declared interests
The study was funded by a Special Olympics Canada Research Grant and received in-kind support from Special Olympics Quebec. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that this virtual health promotion programme failed to engage patients. While blood pressure did not improve, participants significantly increased their confidence in managing their health and communicating with providers. The lack of physiological change may reflect the short duration and low intensity rather than a lack of benefit in empowerment.