Secondary Prevention Risk Interventions via Telemedicine and Tailored Patient Education (SPRITE): A randomized trial to improve post myocardial infarction management

Objective: We evaluated the impact of a low intensity web-based and intensive nurse-administered intervention to reduce systolic blood pressure (SBP) among patients with prior MI. Methods: Secondary Prevention Risk Interventions via Telemedicine and Tailored Patient Education (SPRITE) was a three-arm trial. Patients were randomized to 1) post-MI education-only; 2) nurse-administered telephone program; or 3) web-based interactive tool. The study was conducted 2009–2013. Results: Participants (n = 415) had a mean age of 61 years (standard deviation [SD], 11). Relative to the education-only group, the 12-month differential improvement in SBP was − 3.97 and − 3.27 mmHg for nurse-administered telephone and web-based groups, respectively. Neither were statistically significant. Post hoc exploratory subgroup analyses found participants who received a higher dose (>12 encounters) in the nurse-administered telephone intervention (n = 60; 46%) had an 8.8 mmHg (95% CI, 0.69, 16.89; p = 0.03) differential SBP improvement versus low dose (<11 encounters; n = 71; 54%). For the web-based intervention, those who had higher dose (n = 73; 53%; >1 web encounter) experienced a 2.3 mmHg (95% CI, −10.74, 6.14; p = 0.59) differential SBP improvement versus low dose (n = 65; 47%). Conclusions: The main effects were not statistically significant. Practical Implications: Completing the full dose of the intervention may be essential to experience the intervention effect. Clinical Trial Registration: The unique identifier is NCT00901277 (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00901277?term=NCT00901277&rank=1).