Health as a ‘hook’ for engagement

Today I went to Pembroke (Ontario) to meet with some of the volunteers who have been involved in the CHAP programme in Ontario. CHAP (the Cardiovascular Health Awareness Program) is a community-based program that brings together GPs, pharmacists, other health professionals, volunteers, and health and social service organizations to work together to promote and actively participate in the prevention and management of heart disease and stroke. Volunteers are trained to take blood pressure checks from those aged over 65 in pharmacies and other community settings (including Walmart stores). A volunteer ‘greeter’ would meet people on arrival and explain the process – another volunteer would take the BP check and collect other lifestyle information.

The programme was developed in partnership with McMaster University and has been piloted in 20 communities with impressive results – a 9% reduction in hospital admissions for cardiovascular disease for those aged over 65. (Read the full study in the BMJ).

Whilst this reduction in hospital admissions is an impressive result and will be sure to make health care commissioners take interest  – I also learnt today about some of the other ‘softer’ outcomes of the programme and how it had a potential role in increasing social capital for participants.



CHAP volunteers Gary and Laura
and Co-ordinator Holly.



Volunteers Gary, Laura and Delores told me how the main problem for most of the people who came for BP checks was not physical, “they are people who face barriers to getting out and socialising…who want to talk and tell their story”.

They went on to explain how they would see the same people at each session and how the BP check and the sessions themselves, “became a ‘hook’ to get people involved, provided a place to meet and a way to connect people”. In some cases the volunteers developed a ‘peer mentor’ role, offering advice on issues such as portion size and telling people about other services they could access - all activities which further enable people to feel more empowered to make decisions about their own health and well-being and,  potentially, increase social capital.

Read more about the CHAP programme here.