Effectiveness of Text Messaging as an Incentive to Maintain Physical Activity after Cardiac Rehabilitation: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study

Giulia Foccardi, Marco Vecchiato, Daniel Neunhaeuserer, Michele Mezzaro, Giulia Quinto, Francesca Battista, Federica Duregon, Roberto Carlon and Andrea Ermolao
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Giulia Foccardi: Sports and Exercise Medicine Division, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy
Marco Vecchiato: Sports and Exercise Medicine Division, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy
Daniel Neunhaeuserer: Sports and Exercise Medicine Division, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy
Michele Mezzaro: Sports and Exercise Medicine Division, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy
Giulia Quinto: Sports and Exercise Medicine Division, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy
Francesca Battista: Sports and Exercise Medicine Division, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy
Federica Duregon: Sports and Exercise Medicine Division, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy
Roberto Carlon: UOA Cardiology, Rehabilitation Cardiology, ASSL 6 “Euganea”, Cittadella Hospital, 35013 Cittadella, Italy
Andrea Ermolao: Sports and Exercise Medicine Division, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 12, 1-11

Abstract: Although the efficacy of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is proven, the need to improve patients’ adherence has emerged. There are only a few studies that have investigated the effect of sending text messages after a CR period to stimulate subjects’ ongoing engagement in regular physical activity (PA). A randomized controlled pilot trial was conducted after CR, sending a daily PA text message reminder to an intervention group (IG), which was compared with a usual care control group (CG) during three months of follow-up. Thirty-two subjects were assessed pre- and post-study intervention with GPAQ, submaximal iso-watt exercise testing, a 30 s sit-to-stand test, a bilateral arm curl test, and a final survey on a seven-point Likert scale. A statistically significant difference in the increase of moderate PA time (? 244.7 (95% CI 189.1, 300.4) minutes, p < 0.001) and in the reduction of sedentary behavior time (? ?77.5 (95% CI 104.9, ?50.1) minutes, p = 0.004) was shown when the IG was compared with the CG. This was associated with an improvement in heart rate, blood pressure, and patients’ Borg rating on the category ratio scale 10 (CR10) in iso-watt exercise testing (all p < 0.05). Furthermore, only the IG did not show a worsening of the strength parameters in the follow-up leading to a change of the 30 s sit-to-stand test with a difference of +2.2 (95% CI 1.23, 3.17) repetitions compared to CG ( p = 0.03). The telemedical intervention has been appreciated by the IG, whose willingness to continue with regular PA emerged to be superior compared to the CG. Text messages are an effective and inexpensive adjuvant after phase 2 CR that improves adherence to regular PA. Further studies are needed to confirm these results in a larger patient population and in the long term.

Keywords: ischemic cardiomyopathy; coronary heart disease; exercise training; GPAQ; exercise testing; strength testing (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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