TY  - JOUR
AU  - Rivers, John T
AU  - Smith, Carla
AU  - Smith, Ian
AU  - Cameron, James
PY  - 2022
DA  - 2022/1/17
TI  - The Impact of a Mobile App on Participation in Cardiac Rehabilitation and Understanding Barriers to Success: Comparative Cohort Study
JO  - JMIR Cardio
SP  - e24174
VL  - 6
IS  - 1
KW  - cardiac rehabilitation
KW  - digital health
KW  - smartphone app
KW  - Cardihab
KW  - participation rates
KW  - rehabilitation
KW  - cardiology
KW  - heart
KW  - app
KW  - barrier
AB  - 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. 
SN  - 2561-1011
UR  - https://cardio.jmir.org/2022/1/e24174
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2196/24174
UR  - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/35037891
DO  - 10.2196/24174
ID  - info:doi/10.2196/24174
ER  -