Conventional Rehabilitation Therapy Versus Telerehabilitation in Cardiac Patients: A Comparison of Motivation, Psychological Distress, and Quality of Life

Abstract

Telerehabilitation (TR) has gained attention as a promising rehabilitation format. Our study examined how patients responded to TR and whether it provided adequate support for their lifestyle changes and self-care efforts when compared to conventional rehabilitation (CR). Cardiac patients (n = 136) were randomly assigned to a TR or CR group. The TR group was provided with relevant health care technology for a period of three months, and both groups filled in questionnaires on their motivation for lifestyle changes and self-care psychological distress, and quality of life at 0, 3, 6, and 12 months. Patients in both groups were found to be equally motivated for lifestyle changes and self-care (p < 0.05) and they experienced similar levels of psychological distress and quality of life. TR is comparable to conventional rehabilitation in motivating patients, preventing psychological distress and improving quality of life. Although we observed an initial increase in autonomous motivation in the telerehabilitation group, this positive difference in motivation does not last over time. As such, neither rehabilitation format seems able to ensure long-term motivation. Therefore, TR may serve as a viable replacement for conventional rehabilitation when considered relevant. Further research is needed to enhance long-term motivation, and maybe telerehabilitation can help to achieve this.

Motivating Patients in Cardiac Rehabilitation Programs: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial

“…Over time, our participants reported identical patterns of competence across groups with an initial increase from baseline to the end of phase 2, which declined again during phase 3. This latter finding was surprising and in contrast to our previous findings (Spindler et al, 2019), although, Rahman and colleagues (2015) found similar results with regard to competence in relation to physical exercise as part of CR. It is unlikely that competencies obtained in phase 1 and 2 were forgotten during phase 3.…”

“…In our earlier work (the Teledi@log project, Spindler et al, 2019), we adopted the Self-Determination Theory (SDT) conceptualization of motivation as a theoretical background in our design process. This decision was in accordance with a recent review stressing that using theory to inform the design process may increase the effectiveness of the intervention when developing rehabilitation programs for behavior change (Cho et al, 2018).…”

Integration of Rehabilitation Activities Into Everyday Life Through Telerehabilitation: Qualitative Study of Cardiac Patients and Their Partners

“…Results from a survey in The Teledialog project comparing the telerehabilitation and control group showed that both groups were equally motivated for lifestyle changes and self-care and that they experienced a similar level of quality of life [37].…”

“…We are aware that the results and discussion on telerehabilitation on the motivation of cardiac patients do not allow us to fully discuss this aspect in this qualitative study. However, we have explored this issue in a survey in the Teledialog study [37].…”

Telerreabilitação Cardíaca: Uma Revisão Integrativa Da Literatura

“…A telerreabilitação cardíaca utilizando métodos modernos de comunicação e várias estratégias de mudança comportamental baseadas em evidências, incluindo prevenção de recaídas, resultará em melhores habilidades de autogerenciamento e mudança comportamental sustentável e espera-se que ocorra um aumento superior nos níveis de atividade física em cardiopatas (8,10,11) . (7,9) . (11,6) .…”