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Heart Health Magazine
Introduction
The British Heart Foundation provides a wide range of materials for heart patients of all ages, from the popular Heart Information Series of booklets to a new DVD presented for, and by, young people growing up with heart problems.
Heart Health is a free magazine for heart patients, their carers and health professionals. Since its launch last year Heart Health has significantly increased its circulation.
Action
An evaluation of Heart Health took place in December 2004 after the first three issues. Focus groups and telephone interviews with readers from around the UK provided feedback on the look, feel, content and readership of the magazine.
As well as information on drugs and common tests people may experience as heart patients, our spring 2005 edition of Heart Health combined recipes, news from the BHF, patient stories and expert advice. It also looked at issues related to living with coronary heart disease such as insurance, emotional effects and cardiac rehabilitation.
Impact
Heart Health now has more than 24,000 subscribers and has been very well received, with readers commenting:
"For me, it's like a little friend who comes through the post, somebody who's sharing my problem."
"The articles felt like they were written for me."
Heart Health is providing valuable support and advice. Patients and carers agree that it provides friendly, relevant and topical information. Many healthcare professionals read Heart Health magazine before using it in their clinical practice and regard it as a useful update from a credible and trusted source. The real stories bring a personal element to the magazine and readers have identified with the people featured.
Next steps
The response to Heart Health has been overwhelmingly positive. We are continually improving the magazine and are putting the findings from the evaluation into action. We aim to reach even more people affected by CHD by doubling the circulation in 2005.