Methods of sampling and sample size determination of a comprehensive integrated community-based interventional trial: Isfahan Healthy Heart Program

• Main Authors: Fatemeh Nouri, Awat Feizi, Noushin Mohammadifard, Nizal Sarrafzadegan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Vesnu Publications 2018-04-01
• Series: ARYA Atherosclerosis
• Subjects: Cardiovascular Disease; Sample Size; Sampling Design; Isfahan Healthy Heart Program
• Online Access: http://arya.mui.ac.ir/index.php/arya/article/view/1488
• ISSN: 1735-3955; 2251-6638

<div><p><strong>BACKGROUND:</strong> The aim of this study was describing the sampling methods and sample size of the Isfahan Healthy Heart Program (IHHP) and its sub-studies in focus.</p><p><strong>METHODS:</strong> The IHHP was carried out between 2000 and 2007 in urban and rural areas in 3 districts, namely Isfahan and Najafabad (as the intervention areas), and Arak (as the reference area), Iran. It consisted of the 3 phases of baseline surveys during 2000-2001, interventions between 2002 and 2005, and post-intervention surveys during 2006-2007 on 4 target groups (adults, health professionals, cardiac patients, children, and adolescents). During 2002 to 2005, 4 evaluation studies were conducted to evaluate short-term results. An ongoing cohort study entitled the Isfahan Cohort Study was performed on those aged ≥ 35 years at baseline in 2001 to access the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) occurrence.</p><p><strong>RESULTS:</strong><strong> </strong>Using stratified random cluster methods, 12514, 5891, 4793, 6096, 3012, and 9572 adults and 1946, 1999, 1427, 1223, 389, and 1992 adolescents were chosen in the 1^st to 3^rd phases. Furthermore, simple random sampling was used for selecting 923, 694, 1000, and 2015 health professionals and 814, 452, 420, and 502 cardiac patients. A multistage sampling method was adopted for the collection of samples from parents of preschoolers and primary school children aged 2-10 years, adolescents’ parents, and some teachers. A prospective cohort study was started on 6504 eligible individuals.</p><p><strong>CONCLUSION:</strong> The IHHP, as a comprehensive community-based interventional trial in Iran, among the few population-based studies around the world, has reasonable sampling methods and sample size.</p><p> </p></div>