@Article{info:doi/10.2196/24174, author="Rivers, John T and Smith, Carla and Smith, Ian and Cameron, James", title="The Impact of a Mobile App on Participation in Cardiac Rehabilitation and Understanding Barriers to Success: Comparative Cohort Study", journal="JMIR Cardio", year="2022", month="Jan", day="17", volume="6", number="1", pages="e24174", keywords="cardiac rehabilitation; digital health; smartphone app; Cardihab; participation rates; rehabilitation; cardiology; heart; app; barrier", abstract="Background: Poor patient uptake of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) remains a challenge for multiple reasons including geographic, time, cultural, cost, and psychological constraints. Objective: We evaluated the impact on CR participation rates associated with the addition of the option of mobile app--based CR (Cardihab) for patients declining conventional CR. Methods: A total of 204 consecutive patients were offered CR following angioplasty; of these, 99 were in cohort 1 (offered conventional CR only) and 105 were in cohort 2 (app-based CR offered to those declining conventional CR). Patients in each cohort were followed throughout a 6-week CR program and participation rates were compared for both groups. Patients in cohort 2 declining both forms of CR were interviewed to assess reasons for nonparticipation. Results: CR participation improved from 21{\%} (95{\%} CI 14{\%}-30{\%}) to 63{\%} (95{\%} CI 53{\%}-71{\%}) with the addition of the app (P<.001). Approximately 25{\%} (9/39) of the group declining the app-based program identified technology issues as the reason for nonparticipation. The remainder declined both CR programs or were ineligible due to frailty or comorbidities. Conclusions: Providing patients with the additional option of an app-based CR program substantially improved CR participation. Technology and psychological barriers can limit CR participation. Further innovation in CR delivery systems is required to improve uptake. ", issn="2561-1011", doi="10.2196/24174", url="https://cardio.jmir.org/2022/1/e24174", url="https://doi.org/10.2196/24174", url="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/35037891" }