Project description:Too few patients utilize cardiac rehabilitation (CR), despite its benefits. The Cochrane review assessing the effectiveness of interventions to increase CR utilization (enrolment, adherence, and completion) was updated. A search was performed through July 2018 of the Cochrane and MEDLINE (Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online) databases, among other sources. Randomized controlled trials in adults with myocardial infarction, angina, revascularization, or heart failure were included. Interventions had to aim to increase utilization of comprehensive phase II CR. Two authors independently performed all stages of citation processing. Following the random-effects meta-analysis, meta-regression was undertaken to explore the impact of pre-specified factors. Twenty-six trials with 5299 participants were included (35.8% women). Low-quality evidence showed an effect of interventions in increasing enrolment (risk ratio (RR) = 1.27, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.13⁻1.42). Meta-regression analyses suggested that the intervention deliverer (nurse or allied healthcare provider, p = 0.02) and delivery format (face-to-face, p = 0.01) were influential in increasing enrolment. There was low-quality evidence that interventions to increase adherence were effective (standardized mean difference (SMD) = 0.38, 95% CI = 0.20⁻0.55), particularly where remotely-offered (SMD = 0.56, 95% CI = 0.36⁻0.76). There was moderate-quality evidence that interventions to increase program completion were effective (RR = 1.13, 95% CI = 1.02⁻1.25). There are effective interventions to increase CR utilization, but more research is needed to establish specific, implementable materials and protocols, particularly for completion.
Project description:BackgroundCardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide. Despite strong evidence supporting the benefits of cardiac rehabilitation (CR), over 80% of eligible patients do not participate in CR. Digital health technologies (ie, the delivery of care using the internet, wearable devices, and mobile apps) have the potential to address the challenges associated with traditional facility-based CR programs, but little is known about the comprehensiveness of these interventions to serve as digital approaches to CR. Overall, there is a lack of a systematic evaluation of the current literature on digital interventions for CR.ObjectiveThe objective of this systematic literature review is to provide an in-depth analysis of the potential of digital health technologies to address the challenges associated with traditional CR. Through this review, we aim to summarize the current literature on digital interventions for CR, identify the key components of CR that have been successfully addressed through digital interventions, and describe the gaps in research that need to be addressed for sustainable and scalable digital CR interventions.MethodsOur strategy for identifying the primary literature pertaining to CR with digital solutions (defined as technology employed to deliver remote care beyond the use of the telephone) included a consultation with an expert in the field of digital CR and searches of the PubMed (MEDLINE), Embase, CINAHL, and Cochrane databases for original studies published from January 1990 to October 2018.ResultsOur search returned 31 eligible studies, of which 22 were randomized controlled trials. The reviewed CR interventions primarily targeted physical activity counseling (31/31, 100%), baseline assessment (30/31, 97%), and exercise training (27/31, 87%). The most commonly used modalities were smartphones or mobile devices (20/31, 65%), web-based portals (18/31, 58%), and email-SMS (11/31, 35%). Approximately one-third of the studies addressed the CR core components of nutrition counseling, psychological management, and weight management. In contrast, less than a third of the studies addressed other CR core components, including the management of lipids, diabetes, smoking cessation, and blood pressure.ConclusionsDigital technologies have the potential to increase access and participation in CR by mitigating the challenges associated with traditional, facility-based CR. However, previously evaluated interventions primarily focused on physical activity counseling and exercise training. Thus, further research is required with more comprehensive CR interventions and long-term follow-up to understand the clinical impact of digital interventions.
Project description:OBJECTIVE:To determine the association between cost sharing and adherence to cardiac rehabilitation (CR). PATIENTS AND METHODS:We collected detailed cost-sharing information for patients enrolled in CR at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Massachusetts, including the presence (or absence) and amounts of co-pays and deductibles. We evaluated the association between cost sharing and the total number of CR sessions attended as well as the influence of household income on CR attendance. RESULTS:In 2015, 603 patients enrolled in CR had complete cost-sharing information. In total, 235 (39%) had some form of cost sharing. Of these, 192 (82%) had co-pays (median co-pay, $20; interquartile range [IQR], $10-$32) and 79 (34%) had an unmet deductible (median, $500; IQR, $250-$1800). The presence of any amount or form of cost sharing was associated with 6 fewer sessions of CR (16; IQR, 4-36 vs 10; IQR, 4-27; P<.001). Patients hospitalized in November or December with deductibles that renewed in January attended 4.5 fewer sessions of CR (8.5; IQR, 3.25-12.50 vs 13; IQR, 5.25-36.00; P=.049). After adjustment for differences in baseline characteristics, every $10 increase in co-pay was associated with 1.5 (95% CI, -2.3 to -0.7) fewer sessions of CR (P<.001). Household income did not moderate these relationships. CONCLUSION:Cost sharing was associated with lower CR attendance and exhibited a dose-response relationship such that higher cost sharing was associated with lower CR attendance. Given that CR is cost-effective and underutilized, insurance companies and other payers should reevaluate their cost-sharing policies for CR.
Project description:After acute care of a cardiac event, cardiac rehabilitation helps future disease management. Patients with low health literacy have been shown to have fewer knowledge gains from rehabilitation and higher all-cause mortality after acute cardiac events. Cardiac rehabilitation may be the best channel to target population with low health literacy, yet research on this topic is limited. Consequently, the main aim of the current study was to identify patient perceptions about the health literacy domains that are needed for successful rehabilitation of patients attending German cardiac rehabilitation clinics after an acute cardiac event. Five focus group interviews with 25 inpatients (80% male, 20% female) were conducted at a cardiac rehabilitation clinic in Germany. Patients were eligible to participate if they had sufficient understanding of the German language and had no other debilitating diseases. Patients identified five domains of health literacy for rehabilitation success: knowledge about their health condition; being able to find and evaluate health-related information, being able to make plans and sticking to them, assumption of responsibility over one's health and the ability to ask for and receive support. The results give an important insight into what patients perceive as important components of their cardiac rehabilitation, which can provide the basis for developing the health literacy of patients and how cardiac rehabilitation clinics respond to the recovery needs of their patients.
Project description:BackgroundCodesign strengthens partnerships between healthcare workers and patients. It also facilitates collaborations supporting the development, design and delivery of healthcare services. Prior rehabilitation reviews have focused mainly on the clinical and organisational outcomes of codesign with less focus on the lived experience of rehabilitation patients.ObjectiveTo explore patient experiences of codesigned hospital rehabilitation interventions.DesignRapid review and evidence synthesis of the literature.Data sourcesCINAHL, MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane were searched from 1 January 2000 to 25 April 2022.Study selectionStudies reporting patient experiences of codesigned rehabilitation interventions in hospitals.Results4156 studies were screened, and 38 full-text studies were assessed for eligibility. Seven studies were included in the final rapid review. Five out of the seven studies involved neurological rehabilitation. All eligible studies used qualitative research methods. The main barriers to codesign were related to staffing and dedicated time allocated to face-to-face patient-therapist interactions. High-quality relationships between patients and their therapists were a facilitator of codesign. Thematic synthesis revealed that codesigned rehabilitation interventions can enable a meaningful experience for patients and facilitate tailoring of treatments to align with individual needs. Personalised rehabilitation increases patient involvement in rehabilitation planning, delivery and decision-making. It also promotes positive feelings of empowerment and hope.ConclusionThis rapid review supports the implementation of codesigned rehabilitation interventions to improve patient experiences in hospitals.Prospero registration numberCRD42021264547.
Project description:IntroductionCardiac rehabilitation (CR) improves mortality, morbidity and quality of life of cardiovascular patients. However, its uptake is poor especially in the hospitals due to long travel distances and office hours constraints. Community-based CR is a possible solution.ObjectivesTo understand the type of community-based CR preferred and identify patient characteristics associated with certain programme combinations.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was administered to a randomised list of patients at risk for or with cardiovascular diseases at two community-based CR centres. Participants were presented with nine hypothetical choice sets and asked to choose only one of the two alternative programme combinations in each choice set. Attributes include support group presence, cash incentives, upfront deposit and out-of-pocket cost. The counts for each combination were tallied and corrected for repeats. Chi-square test and logistic regression were performed to understand the characteristics associated with the preferred CR combination.ResultsAfter correcting for repeats, patients most (85.2%) prefer CR programmes with new group activities, support group, cash rewards, deposit and out-of-pocket cost, and few exercise equipment with physiotherapist presence without the need for monitoring equipment. Patients with more than three bedrooms in their house are less likely (OR 0.367; CI 0.17 to 0.80; P=0.011) to choose the choice with no physiotherapist and few equipment available.ConclusionThis is the first study to explore patients' preferences for different types of community CR. Higher income patients prefer physiotherapist presence and are willing to settle for less equipment. Our study serves as a guide for designing future community-based CR programmes.
Project description:BackgroundCardiac rehabilitation is offered to individuals after cardiac events to aid recovery and reduce the likelihood of further cardiac illness. However, patient participation remains suboptimal and the provision of high quality care to an expanding population of patients with chronic heart conditions is becoming increasingly difficult. A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to determine the effect of telephone support interventions compared with standard post-discharge care on coronary artery disease patient outcomes.MethodsThe Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CINAHL were searched and randomized controlled trials that directly compared telephone interventions with standard post-discharge care in adults following a myocardial infarction or a revascularization procedure were included. Study selection, data extraction and quality assessment were completed independently by two reviewers. Where appropriate, outcome data were combined and analyzed using a random effects model. For each dichotomous outcome, odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were derived for each outcome. For continuous outcomes, weighted mean differences (WMD) and standardized mean differences (SMD) and 95% CI were calculated.Results26 studies met the inclusion criteria. No difference was observed in mortality between the telephone group and the group receiving standard care OR 1.12 (0.71, 1.77). The intervention was significantly associated with fewer hospitalizations than the comparison group OR 0.62 (0.40, 0.97). Significantly more participants in the telephone group stopped smoking OR 1.32 (1.07, 1.62); had lower systolic blood pressure WMD -0.22 (-0.40, -0.04); lower depression scores SMD -0.10 (-0.21, -0.00); and lower anxiety scores SMD -0.14 (-0.24, -0.04). However, no significant difference was observed for low-density lipoprotein levels WMD -0.10 (-0.23, 0.03).ConclusionsCompared to standard post-discharge care, regular telephone support interventions may help reduce feelings of anxiety and depression as well as, improve systolic blood pressure control and the likelihood of smoking cessation.
Project description:IntroductionPatient-centred care can be facilitated by co-design, which refers to collaboration between healthcare professionals and consumers in producing and implementing healthcare. Systematic reviews on co-design have mainly focused on the effectiveness of co-produced healthcare interventions. Less attention has been directed towards the experiences of patients in co-designed interventions. This rapid review aims to explore patient experiences of co-designed rehabilitation interventions and inform rehabilitation decision-making.Methods and analysisA rapid review will expedite timely information on co-design experiences for stakeholders. Four electronic databases, including Cochrane CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase and CINAHL, will be searched for papers published from 1 January 2000 to 1 January 2022. The Cochrane Risk of Bias tool will be used for randomised trials. Critical appraisal checklists from The Joanna Briggs Institute shall evaluate the risk of bias of non-randomised trials and qualitative studies. A narrative synthesis will be provided for the quantitative studies. Thematic synthesis will be conducted on qualitative findings. The overall strength of the evidence will be measured using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) framework for quantitative investigations and the GRADE-Confidence in Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative Research for qualitative studies. The results will be presented using narrative summaries, identified themes, summary tables, flow charts and quantitative statistical analyses.Ethics and disseminationEthics approval is not required for the review. The protocol and rapid review will be submitted to an online, open access and peer-reviewed journal for publication. The review findings will be rapidly translated to consumers, clinicians, healthcare leaders, organisations, researchers and policy makers via publications, evidence summaries, conferences, workshops, websites, social media and online events.Prospero registration numberCRD42021264547.
Project description:ObjectivesPatient education and compliance play an important role in the success of rehabilitation in cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study is to analyze whether interactive learning methods, in this study, the audience response system with a "clicker," can improve the learning success of patients during and after their rehabilitation process.MethodsIn a randomized, prospective cohort study, a total of 260 patients were randomized to either an interactive training group using Athens audience response system or to a control group without the use of audience response system during the educational sessions. Patients were taught and tested on four different topics concerning their primary disease: heart failure, arterial hypertension, prevention of cardiovascular diseases, and coronary heart disease. After each session, the patients had to answer questions on the previously taught topics via questionnaires. These questions were asked again at the day of discharge, as well as 3 and 12 months after discharge. Additional information on the patients' health, plus their mental status, was gathered with the help of further questionnaires (HADS and SF-12).ResultsA total of 260 patients (201 men and 59 women) were recruited. The patients were on average 61.1 ± 11 years old. A significant short-term effect on the patients' knowledge about their disease was found immediately after the educational sessions in the intervention group. However, there was no long-term effect in either the intervention or control group. Although there was no statistical significance found in any of the observations, a positive short-term effect on learning capacity as well as positive trends in mental and physical health after discharge could be found in patients after the use of audience response system during their rehabilitation.ConclusionThis study provides interesting and new data on the use of an interactive learning method for patients to gain knowledge about their primary disease and eventually improve their physical and mental health status in a long-term perspective. By implementing different and new ways of teaching and interaction during the hospitalization, not only patients, but also medical staff and caregivers could benefit.