The INFORM trial was set up by the Department of Public Health and Primary Care and the Medical Research Council Epidemiology Unit at the University of Cambridge.

We recruited 932 blood donors who were enrolled in or had taken part in the INTERVAL Study to this smaller study looking at health-related behaviour. Recruitment was complete by June 2015.

The aim of the study was to see whether providing people with different types of information about their individual risk of a heart attack in the next 10 years motivates them to change their lifestyle (for example to eat a healthier diet, exercise more, or stop smoking). To help people with lifestyle changes, we developed an online lifestyle advice programme, which participants looked at over a three-month period.

Information for Participants

A study participant information leaflet was available for those eligible for recruitment.

• Study participant information leaflet – 13.01.2015 (version 1.2)

Funding

The INFORM study was funded by the European Commission as part of the EPIC-CVD project. The overall aim of EPIC-CVD is to provide clinicians and policy makers with evidence-based options for cost-effective individualised CVD risk assessment. It is running in 10 European countries and the INFORM study was part of the work being carried out in the UK.

Findings and publications

INFORM study publications on the MRC Epidemiology Unit publications database

Study protocol

• Silarova, B., Lucas, J., Butterworth, A.S. et al. Information and Risk Modification Trial (INFORM): design of a randomised controlled trial of communicating different types of information about coronary heart disease risk, alongside lifestyle advice, to achieve change in health-related behaviour. BMC Public Health 15, 868 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-015-2192-5

Statistical analysis plan

• Statistical analysis plan – 18.08.15

Qualitative study results

• Shefer, G., Silarova, B., Usher-Smith, J. et al. The response to receiving phenotypic and genetic coronary heart disease risk scores and lifestyle advice – a qualitative study. BMC Public Health 16, 1221 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-016-3867-2

Data sharing

We welcome proposals for projects and aim to make data as widely available as possible whilst safeguarding the privacy of our participants, protecting confidential data and maintaining the reputations of our studies and participants. Please see our Data Sharing pages for more information.