Developing a Brief Intervention to Communicate Cardiovascular Risk to Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department With Chest Pain: a Co-Production Approach. Phase 2.
This study is for people who visit the emergency room with chest pain but don't have a heart attack. We know, from blood tests, that some of these patients still have a higher chance of future heart problems, but they often go home without much information. We found that patients want to learn more about their heart health. In this study, we're trying out a new way to have a short chat with patients about their personal heart risk based on their blood test results. We also want to see if this conversation helps them understand their risks better and encourages them to make healthy lifestyle changes.
At a glance
What is this study about?
Imagine you go to the emergency room because of chest pain. After tests, doctors confirm you haven't had a heart attack right now. That's good news! However, sometimes a specific blood test, called troponin, can show small signs that your heart might be at a slightly higher risk in the future, even if it's not an emergency at that moment.
Often, patients in this situation go home without much information about these potential future risks. But we know from talking to patients that they actually want to understand their heart health better. So, this study is all about finding a better way to share this important information with you.
We've already asked patients what kind of information they'd like and how it should be shared. Now, in this part of the study, we're testing a new, short conversation with patients about their personal troponin results and what it means for their heart health. We want to see if this new approach helps you understand your risk better and if it encourages you to take steps towards improving your heart health.
Key takeaways
- This study explores better ways to talk about heart risk.
- It's for people with chest pain who didn't have a heart attack.
- We use a blood test (troponin) to identify higher-risk patients.
- The goal is to help you understand your risk and make healthy changes.
- Participation involves a short, informative conversation about your health.
Who may be eligible?
This study is looking for adults aged 18 or over who live in Scotland. You might be suitable if you've recently been to the emergency room because of chest pain, but doctors confirmed you did not have a heart attack at that time. Your blood test (troponin) results would have shown a low level, indicating a slightly higher risk for future heart problems.
You would also need to have at least one health factor that can be changed, such as being a smoker, having high blood pressure, high cholesterol, being overweight, or having high blood sugar/diabetes. It's important that you don't already have a history of heart disease and are able to understand and agree to take part.
However, you wouldn't be able to join if you had an actual heart attack when you came to the emergency room, or if you can't speak English or attend follow-up appointments. Also, if you already have plans for heart investigations or treatments, or have severe kidney problems, this study wouldn't be right for you.
Could this study suit you?
Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.
- Are you 18 or older and live in Scotland?
- Did you go to A&E for chest pain, but didn't have a heart attack?
- Did your heart blood test (troponin) show a low but slightly raised level?
- Do you have a changeable risk factor like smoking, high blood pressure, or being overweight?
- Are you able to speak English and attend follow-up appointments?
What does participation involve?
If you decide to take part, you'll have a short chat with a healthcare professional about your personal heart health risk based on your blood test results. This conversation is designed to help you understand your risks and discuss ways to improve your heart health. You might be asked to come back for a follow-up appointment to see if this chat helped you understand things better and if you've made any health changes. The total time you'd spend in the study would be discussed with you.
Potential risks and benefits
Locations (1)
- NHS LothianVerified postcodeEdinburgh, United Kingdom· Recruiting
Common questions
What is a 'brief intervention'?
It's a short, focused conversation with a healthcare professional designed to give you information and support about your health.
What is troponin?
Troponin is a protein found in your heart muscle. When heart muscle is damaged, troponin is released into your bloodstream, and doctors can measure it with a blood test.
Will I get medical advice during the study?
You'll receive information about your personal heart risk and discussions about ways to improve your health. This is to help you make informed decisions, not to replace advice from your own doctor.
Do I have to change my lifestyle if I take part?
No, you don't have to. The study aims to see if the information helps you understand your risk and potentially motivates you to make changes, but the decision is entirely yours.
What if I don't want to continue with the study?
You are free to stop participating at any time without giving a reason, and it won't affect your medical care.
How to find out more
Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.
Interested in taking part?
Discussion
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