Improving coronary heart disease self-management using mobile technologies (Text4Heart): a randomised controlled...

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Digital Health
• Public Health

Background:

• Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs help coronary heart disease (CHD) patients adopt healthier lifestyles.
• Low attendance rates at traditional center-based CR programs limit their effectiveness.
• Mobile health (mHealth) offers a potential solution to increase CR accessibility and engagement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a comprehensive mHealth CR program in improving adherence to healthy lifestyle behaviors.
• To compare the mHealth CR program against usual CR care in New Zealand adults with CHD.
• To assess secondary outcomes including cardiovascular disease risk, self-efficacy, and mental health.

Main Methods:

• A 24-week, two-arm, parallel, randomized controlled trial was conducted with 120 participants.
• Participants received either a personalized mHealth CR program (text messages and website) plus usual care, or usual care alone.
• The primary outcome was measured by a composite health behavior score at 6 months.

Main Results:

• The primary outcome, adherence to healthy behaviors, was measured using a composite health behavior score.
• Secondary outcomes included cardiovascular disease risk, body composition, illness perceptions, self-efficacy, anxiety/depression, and medication adherence.
• The study is registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12613000901707).

Conclusions:

• This trial is among the first to investigate a comprehensive mHealth-delivered CR program.
• The study's robust design and detailed intervention description facilitate replication.
• Successful implementation could enhance standard CR practices and serve as a model for other self-management programs.