The TTCYB Study Protocol: A Tailored Print Message Intervention to Improve Cardiovascular Patients’ Lifestyles

Marco D’Addario, Erika Rosa Cappelletti, Marcello Sarini, Andrea Greco and Patrizia Steca
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Marco D’Addario: Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126 Milan, Italy
Erika Rosa Cappelletti: Health Promotion Division, Agenzia Tutela Salute Milano, 20129 Milan, Italy
Marcello Sarini: Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126 Milan, Italy
Andrea Greco: Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Bergamo, 24129 Bergamo, Italy
Patrizia Steca: Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126 Milan, Italy

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 8, 1-14

Abstract: This article describes the development of the “Time to Change Your Behavior” (TTCYB) study protocol, a theory-based, tailored print message intervention to improve compliance with the self-care regimen in patients with cardiovascular diseases. A design with a baseline measurement and two follow-ups at six and 12 months will be applied. At baseline and the six-month follow-up, patients will complete self-report questionnaires evaluating lifestyle habits and socio-demographic and psychological variables; at the 12-month follow-up, patients will answer a telephone interview assessing lifestyle habits. After the baseline measurement, patients will be randomized into one of three groups: (1) the tailored group, which will receive tailored health brochures; (2) the “non-tailored” group, which will receive non-tailored health brochures; or (3) the usual care group, which will receive no print information materials. The effectiveness of the intervention will be assessed through patients’ judgments of the brochures and changes in lifestyle. The role of socio-demographic and psychological variables as potential moderators of the materials’ effectiveness will be explored. If the TTCYB is efficacious, it will have implications for the design and implementation of tailored communication programs. Concepts from this study can be potentially extended to primary prevention among high-risk groups.

Keywords: tailored communication; chronic disease; self-management and lifestyle behaviors; cardiovascular diseases (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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