Changes in patient activation following cardiac rehabilitation using the Active+me digital healthcare platform during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cohort evaluation.
Authors
Frith, Gabbi
Carver, Kathryn
Curry, Sarah
Darby, Alan
Sydes, Anna
Symonds, Stephen
Wilson, Katrina
McGregor, Gordon
Auton, Kevin
Nichols, Simon
Publication Date
2021-12-24Journal Title
BMC Health Serv Res
ISSN
1472-6963
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Volume
21
Issue
1
Language
en
Type
Article
This Version
VoR
Metadata
Show full item recordCitation
Frith, G., Carver, K., Curry, S., Darby, A., Sydes, A., Symonds, S., Wilson, K., et al. (2021). Changes in patient activation following cardiac rehabilitation using the Active+me digital healthcare platform during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cohort evaluation.. BMC Health Serv Res, 21 (1) https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-021-07363-7
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Restrictions on face-to-face contact, due to COVID-19, led to a rapid adoption of technology to remotely deliver cardiac rehabilitation (CR). Some technologies, including Active+me, were used without knowing their benefits. We assessed changes in patient activation measure (PAM) in patients participating in routine CR, using Active+me. We also investigated changes in PAM among low, moderate, and high risk patients, changes in cardiovascular risk factors, and explored patient and healthcare professional experiences of using Active+me. METHODS: Patients received standard CR education and an exercise prescription. Active+me was used to monitor patient health, progress towards goals, and provide additional lifestyle support. Patients accessed Active+me through a smart-device application which synchronised to telemetry enabled scales, blood pressure monitors, pulse oximeter, and activity trackers. Changes in PAM score following CR were calculated. Sub-group analysis was conducted on patients at high, moderate, and low risk of exercise induced cardiovascular events. Qualitative interviews explored the acceptability of Active+me. RESULTS: Forty-six patients were recruited (Age: 60.4 ± 10.9 years; BMI: 27.9 ± 5.0 kg.m2; 78.3% male). PAM scores increased from 65.5 (range: 51.0 to 100.0) to 70.2 (range: 40.7 to 100.0; P = 0.039). PAM scores of high risk patients increased from 61.9 (range: 53.0 to 91.0) to 75.0 (range: 58.1 to 100.0; P = 0.044). The PAM scores of moderate and low risk patients did not change. Resting systolic blood pressure decreased from 125 mmHg (95% CI: 120 to 130 mmHg) to 119 mmHg (95% CI: 115 to 122 mmHg; P = 0.023) and waist circumference measurements decreased from 92.8 cm (95% CI: 82.6 to 102.9 cm) to 85.3 cm (95% CI 79.1 to 96.2 cm; P = 0.026). Self-reported physical activity levels increased from 1557.5 MET-minutes (range: 245.0 to 5355.0 MET-minutes) to 3363.2 MET-minutes (range: 105.0 to 12,360.0 MET-minutes; P < 0.001). Active+me was acceptable to patients and healthcare professionals. CONCLUSION: Participation in standard CR, with Active+me, is associated with increased patient skill, knowledge, and confidence to manage their condition. Active+me may be an appropriate platform to support CR delivery when patients cannot be seen face-to-face. TRIAL REGISTRATION: As this was not a clinical trial, the study was not registered in a trial registry.
Keywords
Research, Cardiac rehabilitation, Patient activation, Self-efficacy, Tele-health, COVID-19
Identifiers
s12913-021-07363-7, 7363
External DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-021-07363-7
This record's URL: https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/332146
Rights
Licence:
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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