#Nurse snap trial

Moderate to high intensity interventions provided through PHC also show promise for improving weight, diet and physical activity for those at high risk of developing or progressing in chronic disease. The evidence suggests that PHC can be appropriate for the delivery of brief lifestyle interventions as it has been shown to improve the rate of smoking cessation and reduce ‘at-risk alcohol’ consumption. This relates to its accessibility and its capacity for repeated contacts with clients, which provides an opportunity to assess lifestyle risk factors, monitor progress and refer to other health professionals. Primary health care (PHC) has been identified as a suitable setting to address behavioural risk factors. It is well recognised that to reduce the prevalence of behavioural risk factors, a wide range of interventions are required, be they related to policy, the environment or health service intervention.

Reducing the prevalence of these risk factors in the population is important given that chronic disease accounts for more than 60% of the overall global burden of disease. Lifestyle risk factors such as smoking, poor nutrition, at-risk alcohol consumption and physical inactivity (SNAP) have been identified as the main preventable risk factors for chronic diseases worldwide. The service model needs to be adapted to sustain these changes and enhance referral. This study shows that the intervention was associated with positive changes in self-reported lifestyle risk factor management practices of GCHNs. Nurses’ perception of the importance of ‘ client and system-related’ barriers to risk factor management diminished over time. There was little change in referral rates except for an improvement in weight management related referrals. Nurses in the intervention group reported assessing physical activity, weight and nutrition more frequently, as well as providing more brief interventions for physical activity, weight management and smoking cessation.

Nurses in the intervention group became more confident in assessment and intervention over the three time points compared to their control group peers. Six semi-structured interviews and four focus groups were conducted among the intervention group to explore the feasibility of incorporating the intervention into everyday practice. A sample of 129 GCHNs completed surveys at baseline, 6 and 12 months to examine changes in their practices and levels of confidence related to the management of SNAP risk factors. Nurses in the intervention group were provided with training and support in the provision of brief lifestyle assessments and interventions. The services were randomly allocated to either an intervention group or control group.

#Nurse snap trial

The trial used a quasi-experimental design involving four generalist community nursing services in NSW, Australia. The aim of the paper is to examine the impact of a service-level intervention on the risk factor management practices of GCHNs.

Generalist community health nurses (GCHNs) are uniquely placed to provide lifestyle interventions as they see clients in their homes over a period of time.

Primary health care is an appropriate setting to address these risk factors in individuals. Lifestyle risk factors like smoking, nutrition, alcohol consumption, and physical inactivity (SNAP) are the main behavioural risk factors for chronic disease.