Randomization was conducted at each of the two rural
communities separately after each participant completed
a baseline questionnaire and signed an informed consents
form. Participants in the same community were
randomized into "intervention group" and "control
group", according to a random-number table with a
randomization ratio designed to yield no fewer than 20
and no more than 25 participants in a group. Investigators
and assessors (those collecting and analyzing data)
were blinded to group assignments. Participants were
aware of their treatment assignments. The members of
the general practice care team knew which participants
were in intervention group, but they did not know which
patients in the community served as control subjects for
this study