The Merged Reflect/Complete Health Improvement Program (CHIP) in the South Pacific - A Pilot Study

Abstract

<p><strong>Background/Aims:</strong> Chronic diseases (CDs) have reached epidemic proportions</p> <p>in Pacific Island countries. Unhealthy lifestyle is one of the major</p> <p>risk factors and lifestyle interventions have been shown to be efficacious</p> <p>for primary, secondary and early tertiary prevention. However, there is a</p> <p>paucity of evidence regarding effective community-based lifestyle interventions</p> <p>in the South Pacific (SP). This study examined the effectiveness</p> <p>of a contextualised version of the evidence-based CHIP intervention, utilising</p> <p>the low-literacy REFLECT approach.</p> <p><strong>Methods: </strong>A 30-day cluster-RCT of 48 adults with elevated risk (waist</p> <p>circumference _ 92 cm for men and _ 80 cm for women), in two rural</p> <p>Fijian villages was conducted. Intervention participants (n ¼ 24) met three</p> <p>times a week to receive the program. Control participants (n ¼ 24)</p> <p>received only country-specific Ministry of Health literature. Outcome</p> <p>assessments at baseline and 30 days included BMI, WC, blood pressure,</p> <p>lipids and glucose. The extent of the change in each measures between</p> <p>intervention and control villages was assessed using mixed betweenwithin</p> <p>ANOVA.</p> <p><strong>Results:</strong> In 30 days, significant reductions were recorded for intervention</p> <p>participant’s BMI (2%), SBP (10%), DBP (8%), T-cholesterol (6%), LDL (12%),</p> <p>HDL (15%) and blood glucose (10%), while triglycerides increased 35%. Only</p> <p>DBP (7%) and T-cholesterol (8%) decreased in the control group.</p> <p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> This is the first lifestyle intervention using the REFLECT</p> <p>approach to target CDs in the SP. Significant reductions in selected CD risk</p> <p>factors were observed in 30 days, being comparable to cohorts in first</p> <p>world countries. Larger scale research is warranted to assess broader delivery</p> <p>of this lifestyle intervention across the SP.</p> <p><strong>Funding source(s):</strong> N/A</p>