Development and effect of a coordinated Community Health Worker (CHW) Intervention (C-CHW-I) model for the stroke survivors in Kerala, South India.

Introduction: Structured models for secondary prevention of stroke in community settings are scarce. We aimed to develop and evaluate a model for improving medication adherence and enhanced risk factor monitoring.

Methods: We developed a multimodal C-CHW-I model for stroke survivors. Following training, all patients received a minimum of three CHW home visits, and once in 3-month telephone-call and health education for six months by CHWs. Seven blocks from 16 blocks of the study area were randomised to additionally receive an SMS alert for six months to reinforce CHW involvement. The primary outcomes were medication adherence and risk factor monitoring, and the secondary outcome was risk factor control.

Results: The mean age of the study population was 64+12 years, 765(85%) had ischaemic stroke. In the overall study cohort receiving the CHW intervention, mean medication adherence significantly improved from 3.56(0.88) at baseline to 3.78(0.61) at 6 months; p<0.001. Overall risk factor monitoring improved from 42.7% to 49.7%, and mean (standard deviation) systolic blood pressure (SBP) significantly reduced from 138(21) mmHg to 132(15) mmHg at 6-months; p<0.001. In patients additionally receiving SMS-based intervention, a statistically significant improvement in medication adherence was seen at 3 months (3.76+0.64 versus 3.61+0.81; p=0.008) however no difference persisted at 6 months. The proportion of smokers and alcohol users reduced in both groups with a trend to greater reduction in the intervention group (smokers:5.9% versus 2.8% (p=0.446) and alcohol users: 1.6% versus 1.4%(p=0.474)). At six months, the SBP did not differ (SBP (132.1(16.2) in the SMS group versus 133.2(15.8) mmHg in the control group, p=0.409).

Conclusion: Our model improved medication adherence and risk factor monitoring of stroke survivors in community settings, and this can reduce stroke burden in the community.