Fort Lupton

Researchers are evaluating three strategies to reduce cardiovascular disease risk factors in patients facing health disparities, including ethnic minorities, low-income groups, and those with limited English proficiency. The study focuses on improving self-management of chronic cardiovascular conditions by targeting the American Heart Associations Lifes Essential 8 factors blood glucose, cholesterol, blood pressure, physical activity, body mass index, diet, and smoking. The main goal is to see if text messaging, AI chatbot messaging, or chatbot messaging combined with pharmacist support can improve patient outcomes and self-management. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups. The first group receives generic weekly text messages for nine weeks. The second group receives four weekly interactive messages from an AI chatbot that encourages engagement and tailored support on LE8 topics. The third group receives the same interactive AI chatbot messages plus proactive pharmacist outreach to address any uncontrolled risk factors. The trial runs over several years at health centers serving diverse populations experiencing health disparities. Participants will be followed for 12 months after randomization. Researchers will measure changes in the LE8 health score and individual cardiovascular risk factors. They will also assess medication adherence, self-efficacy, clinical outcomes like hospitalizations, and healthcare use. Data collection includes pharmacy records, clinical events, and patient questionnaires. The study aims to identify effective communication methods to support patients in managing cardiovascular risks, with attention to social and cultural factors.