Feasibility of a Virtual Educational Programme for Behaviour Change in Cardiac Patients from a Low-Resource Setting

Rafaella Zulianello dos Santos, Sidnei Almeida, Andrea Korbes Scheafer, Marlus Karsten, Paul Oh, Magnus Benetti and Gabriela Lima de Melo Ghisi ()
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Rafaella Zulianello dos Santos: Cardio Oncology and Exercise Medicine Nucleus (NCME), University of Santa Catarina State, Florianopolis 88080-350, Brazil
Sidnei Almeida: Cardio Oncology and Exercise Medicine Nucleus (NCME), University of Santa Catarina State, Florianopolis 88080-350, Brazil
Andrea Korbes Scheafer: Cardio Oncology and Exercise Medicine Nucleus (NCME), University of Santa Catarina State, Florianopolis 88080-350, Brazil
Marlus Karsten: Cardio Oncology and Exercise Medicine Nucleus (NCME), University of Santa Catarina State, Florianopolis 88080-350, Brazil
Paul Oh: KITE Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M4G 2V6, Canada
Magnus Benetti: Cardio Oncology and Exercise Medicine Nucleus (NCME), University of Santa Catarina State, Florianopolis 88080-350, Brazil
Gabriela Lima de Melo Ghisi: KITE Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M4G 2V6, Canada

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 11, 1-11

Abstract: Patient education is an integral part of recovery from a critical cardiac life event and a core component of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programmes. This study addressed the feasibility of a virtual educational programme for behaviour change in CR patients from a low-resource setting in Brazil. Cardiac patients from a CR programme closed due to the pandemic received a 12-week virtual educational intervention (WhatsApp messages and bi-weekly calls from healthcare providers). Acceptability, demand, implementation, practicality, and limited efficacy were tested. Overall, 34 patients and 8 healthcare providers agreed to participate. The intervention was considered practical and acceptable by the participants, who reported a satisfaction median of 9.0 (7.4–10.0)/10 (patients) and 9.8 (9.6–10.0)/10 (providers). The main difficulties in carrying out the intervention activities were related to technology, motivation to self-learning, and a lack of in-person orientation. All the patients reported that the information included in the intervention was aligned with their information needs. The intervention was associated with changes in exercise self-efficacy, sleep quality, depressive symptoms, and performance of high-intensity physical activity. In conclusion, the intervention was considered feasible to educate cardiac patients from a low-resource setting. It should be replicated and expanded to support patients that face barriers to onsite CR participation. Challenges related to technology and self-learning should be addressed.

Keywords: cardiac rehabilitation; feasibility study; patient education as topic; virtual education (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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