Table 1 General practice, practice nurse and patient characteristics

Practice characteristics

N = 19

N = 15

Single-handed practice

Duo/group practice

N = 10 (52.6%)

N = 9 (47.4%)

N = 9 (60%)

N = 6 (40%)

Rural area

Urban area

N = 10 (52.6%)

N = 9 (47.4%)

N = 6 (40%)

N = 9 (60%)

Mean number of patients visiting the general practice per week (SD)

185.31 (91.56)

141.00 (48.34)

Mean FTE practice nurses (SD)

0.71 (0.35)

0.65 (0.32)

Practice nurse characteristics

N = 20

N = 14

Sex % female

90

100

Mean age in years

42

43

Mean number of years experience as practice nurse

12

11

Mean number of hours previous training of motivational interviewing skills

15

15

Patients characteristics

N = 1250

N = 979

Sex % female

35.1

34.9

Mean age in years (SD)

72.6 (9.2)

71.6 (9.7)

Number of patients that had a contact with the practice during the intervention period

N = 303

N = 161

Patient with established CVD

N = 130

N = 66

Patients at high risk

N = 173

N = 95

No symptoms of depression (%)

74.4

75.6

Mild symptoms of depression (%)

23.6

22.7

Severe symptoms of depression (%)

2.0

1.7