Patient perspectives on a mobile health clinic for cardiovascular risk factor screening, health promotion and prevention.

Abstract

Nurse-led mobile health services have emerged as an important strategy to address gaps in preventative care, particularly for cardiovascular disease. These services can reduce barriers such as transportation, cost, and difficulty seeing a primary care provider. Understanding participants' perspectives can help clarify what works with these services, as well as address any potential limitations. The objective of the study was to explore participant perspectives of a cardiovascular mobile health clinic (MHC). Qualitative description using semi-structured interviews conducted from May 2023 to September 2023. The MHC operates in the Canton de Vaud, Switzerland providing cardiovascular screening and preventative services. The study included a purposive sample of 32 participants who had utilized the MHC. Participants highlighted five key themes: motivation and initial engagement; efficient, high-quality service; engagement and interest in cardiovascular prevention; relationships with healthcare professionals; and perceived influence on health behaviors. Participants noted multiple reasons for initial engagement with the MHC: accessibility, ease of booking appointments, and motivation to monitor health. A strong interest in prevention was expressed, participants appreciated comparing their color-coded results from one year to the next. Participants praised the nurses, appreciating their openness, attentiveness and communication. These interactions, coupled with personalized advice, led many participants to declare having adjusted their lifestyles and health behaviors. This nurse-led cardiovascular mobile health service has been well received by patients, with most continuing to visit on an annual basis. These findings underscore the value that MHCs could represent for meeting patients' cardiovascular screening and preventative needs. These findings suggest that nurse-led mobile health clinics can serve as accessible and reliable entry points for preventative care. There is a strong interest in preventative care in the community, and integrating mobile health clinics, particularly nurse-led services, could be of great benefit to health care systems.