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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Sophia BradyORCiD, Dr Jen PorticeORCiD, Dr Steph ScottORCiD, Emerita Professor Julia Newton
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2025. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ Group. BACKGROUND: The North East of England has the lowest healthy life expectancy and the highest health inequalities of any region in England. The conventional model, whereby we 'expect' individuals to be motivated to attend a 'healthcare setting' to undergo cardiovascular disease (CVD) health checks every 5 years has low levels of uptake, with populations most at risk frequently failing to engage. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to gather behavioural insights into the barriers/challenges that limit engagement with the current NHS CVD Health Checks. METHODS DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS AND OUTCOMES: Drawing on a Behavioural Insight approach, 7 qualitative focus groups with members of ethnic minorities and underserved groups (n=45 participants) were conducted to understand barriers and challenges to uptake of NHS CVD Health Checks in one region in North East England (Middlesbrough). Data were analysed using a Behavioural Insights approach, applied to establish key themes, barriers and enablers. RESULTS: Our findings identified that underserved communities in North East England find engaging with NHS CVD Health Checks challenging due to issues related to access, understanding and attitudes. Communities identified that harnessing relationships with existing community champions would raise awareness and confidence in engaging. Making services accessible where communities gathered, while also increasing understanding and knowledge, was also recognised as key to engagement. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggested that despite there being substantial barriers to engagement with NHS CVD Health Checks, novel methods encouraging uptake may be effective to address the significant health inequalities seen in deprived communities. Ensuring a co-developed and co-delivered approach to CVD risk reduction with underserved communities, together with social marketing campaigns to raise awareness about the importance of CVD, and why reducing its risk is so important, is key to success.
Author(s): Brady SM, Chidanyika J, Verrill K, Portice JS, Scott S, Newton J
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: BMJ Open
Year: 2025
Volume: 15
Issue: 9
Online publication date: 21/09/2025
Acceptance date: 02/09/2025
Date deposited: 06/10/2025
ISSN (print): 2044-6055
ISSN (electronic): 2044-6055
Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group
URL: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2024-096500
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-096500
Data Access Statement: All data relevant to the study are included in the article or uploaded as supplementary information.
PubMed id: 40976672
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