Promoting patient uptake and adherence in cardiac rehabilitation

Abstract

There is some evidence to suggest that interventions to increase the uptake of cardiac rehabilitation can be effective. Few practice recommendations for increasing adherence to cardiac rehabilitation can be made at this time. Interventions targeting patient identified barriers may increase the likelihood of success. Further high quality research is needed.

The Role of Exercise Training in Heart Failure

“…A Cochrane review of publications since June 2001 evaluating interventions aimed at improving enrollment (uptake) and adherence to cardiac rehabilitation programs and their components found few practice recommendations could be made, although those targeting individual patient barriers might increase success (83). Individual obstacles to exercise that need to be evaluated and possibly mitigated include such things as physical and psychological comorbidities, musculoskeletal limitations of aging, impaired cognition, sleep disturbances, and poor health literacy.…”

Predictors of Enrollment in Cardiac Rehabilitation Programs in Spain

“…3 However, enrollment in and adherence to these programs is below the recommended levels. 4 In Spain, the implementation and development of CR are limited. The number of CRPs continues to be low and they are poorly distributed in certain regions.…”

Cardiorespiratory fitness, oxygen pulse and heart rate response following the MyAction programme

“…• An important first step in offering a cardiac rehabilitation service is to ensure that an agreed and coordinated patient referral and/or recruitment process is established so that all eligible patients are identified and invited to participate [29] .…”

“…• In order to maximise service uptake the initial assessment should be from a member of the cardiac rehabilitation team as part of in-patient care for those admitted to hospital [29,30] .…”