Increasing uptake of NHS Health Checks in Northamptonshire
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Assessing the impact of different invitation letters on uptake of the NHS Health Check in Northamptonshire
IRAS ID
145473
Contact name
Annabelle Bonus
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Department of Health
Research summary
The study is to determine the most effective patient invitation letter to increase uptake of NHS Health Checks.
The NHS Health Check is offered to 40-74 year olds in England who don’t have an excluding medical condition. These 15 million patients are invited over a rolling five year period. The programme is a priority for DH, NHS England and Public Health England in their efforts to tackle premature mortality and promote healthy lifestyles. However, uptake rates are significantly lower than desired, at around 50 per cent.
Local authority commissioners of the NHS Health Check currently use a range of letters and marketing to invite the eligible population. However, no robust evidence has been collected to suggest which of these is the most effective at increasing invitation acceptance.
There is compelling evidence in the field of behavioural science to suggest that a low cost intervention such as varying the content of the letters may be effective at increasing participation.
Around 6,000 members of the eligible population from GP surgeries in Northamptonshire will be randomised to receive one of three letters inviting them to an NHS Health Check. The letters will contrast the current nationally recommended invitation against two new letters. This new letters are informed by current anecdotal best practice from the NHS Health Checks programme, as well as insights from behavioural science.
We will measure differences in responses to the different letter(i.e. number of appointments attended). Uptake data is collected by the local health checks programme manager according to established IG processes.
Anonymised results will be analysed by the DH Behaviour Change Team. The researchers will not access any patient identifiable information.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Leeds West Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/YH/0429
Date of REC Opinion
3 Jan 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion