Exploring Gender-based Experiences in a Digitally Delivered Cardiac Rehabilitation Program: Qualitative Insights From...

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Digital Health
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is vital for secondary cardiovascular disease prevention but faces low participation, especially among women.
• Digital CR programs offer accessible alternatives, yet gender-specific engagement and experiences remain under-researched.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore gendered experiences and engagement patterns within the My Heart Coach (MHC) digital CR program.
• To identify how gender influences participant interaction with digital CR elements and overall program outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative descriptive study involving 32 participants (20 women, 12 men) who completed the 12-week MHC program.
• Purposive sampling ensured diversity; data collected via semi-structured interviews and analyzed thematically.
• Iterative data collection and analysis continued until thematic saturation was reached.

Main Results:

• Identified gender-based differences in experiences of cardiac events and recovery.
• Found distinct barriers and facilitators for women (prioritizing flexibility, social connection) and men (valuing privacy, autonomy) in digital CR engagement.
• Explored gendered motivations, facilitators, and post-program changes in digital CR.

Conclusions:

• Gender significantly shapes participant experiences and engagement in digital CR.
• Findings highlight the necessity for gender-responsive digital CR designs to enhance participation and cater to diverse needs.
• Tailoring digital CR programs based on gender can improve scalability and effectiveness.