Rationale, Design, and Initial Findings of Community Trial on Improving the Iranian's Knowledge and Practice of Dyslipidemia Management, Prevention, and Control

Abstract

BACKGROUND: To investigate the effects of comprehensive, integrated interventions on dyslipidemia Knowledge and Practices (LIPOKAP) using population and high-risk approaches. METHODS: The baseline of this national, multicentric community trial was conducted on three groups: the general population (adults over the age of 18 and their children aged 6-18), patients with dyslipidemia and their caregivers, and health professionals (physicians, nurses, health providers, and health workers). The general population was allocated using multi-stage random sampling, while patients and health professionals were recruited using the consecutive sampling method. The research was carried out in urban and rural areas of five Iranian counties. The sampling method and sample size were similar in baseline and post-intervention surveys. Approximately 8-month intervention programs were carried out on the target groups, which generally included educational strategies. The intervention activities addressed the management, prevention, and control and were tailored to each target group, focusing on lifestyle and self-care. RESULTS: All questionnaires' content validity ratio, content validity index, and Cronbach's alpha were over 0.68, 0.83, and 0.73, respectively. We enrolled 2456 adults and 850 of their children, 3331 dyslipidemia patients, 1699 caregivers, and 1957 health professionals. CONCLUSIONS: The validity and reliability of all developed questionnaires that can examine knowledge and practice changes as a result of intervention activities were acceptable.