I-START is a randomized controlled trial that will evaluate the efficacy of an internet-based program of behavioural counseling for adaptive lifestyle change to subjects diagnosed with hypertension. I-START will be evaluated using objective outcome indices: systolic and diastolic blood pressure, pulse pressure, and markers of vagal-heart rate (HR) modulation and baroreflex sensitivity. The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada "Blood Pressure Action Plan(TM)" (BPAP) will be adminisered over a 4-month period, and evaluated in a 2 (Intervention vs. Wait list Control) X 2 (Baseline vs. Post-Intervention) factorial design, blocking for 3 recruitment sites (Toronto, London, the Grey Bruce region of Ontario, Canada), and stratified for sex and age group (45-59, 60-74 years).
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
387
10 email messages based on readiness-to-change over a 4 month period
Waitlist control plus educational material on lifestyle behavior and hyptertension
University of Western Ontario
London, Ontario, Canada
Grey Bruce Public Health Unit
Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada
Toronto General Hospital
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Lab Assessment of systolic and diastolic blood pressure as well as pulse pressure
Time frame: 4 months
Lifestyle Behavior: exercise and diet assessed by questionnaire
Time frame: 4 months
laboratory assessment of estimated vagal-heart rate modulation and baroreflex sensitivity
Time frame: 4 months
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