Support Life Club: A New Model Based on Social Media Group Chats and Social Activities That Can Improve Adherence and Clinical Outcomes in Patients Receiving Cardiac Rehabilitation

Abstract

Aim To describe a new model, the Support Life Club (SLC), for participants of Phase II cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs and to evaluate this model for adherence, completion rates, and clinical outcomes. Methods This retrospective study involved 391 consecutive patients who participated in an outpatient CR program between September 2016 and May 2020. The intervention group (SLC) was comprised of 198 patients who participated in education, WeChat-based group activity as well as outdoor activities, while the control group (non-intervention) was comprised of 193 cases. All patients attended a 12-week supervised outpatient CR program (three sessions per week, each lasting 40min). The intervention and control groups were compared for completion rates, Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test (CPET) results, Six-minute Walk Test (6MWT) distances, and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scores. Results Patients in the intervention group attended at least 75% of the exercise training sessions more often than those in the control group (72.5% vs 40.41%, adjusted odds ratio (OR): 27.385; 95% CI: 10.2 to 73.6; P = 0.0000). Analysis of variance (2 × 2 ANOVA) revealed a significant group-by-time interaction in PHQ9 and 6MWT test results (p = 0.000). Conclusion The addition of SLC to a cardiac rehabilitation program resulted in better outcomes for PHQ9 and 6MWT tests and may be a useful strategy to improve exercise adherence.

Barriers to Participation in Cardiac Rehabilitation Among Patients with Coronary Heart Disease After Reperfusion Therapy: A Scoping Review

“…However, in the participation level section, the authors divide the participation rate into three categories they are low respondents participation in CR (≤50%), moderate (51–75%), and high (>75%) (see Table 2 ). Based on the categorization of participation rates in CR, it shows that most of the studies analyzed show a low participation rate (n=12), 10 , 13 , 23 , 26–28 , 34 , 35 , 38 , 39 , 41 , 43 moderate participation rate (n=7), 7 , 11 , 16 , 33 , 36 , 37 , 42 and a high participation rate CR (n=4). 9 , 19 , 22 , 40 …”

“…Based on the categorization of participation rates in CR, it shows that most of the studies analyzed show a low participation rate (n=12), 10 , 13 , 23 , 26–28 , 34 , 35 , 38 , 39 , 41 , 43 moderate participation rate (n=7), 7 , 11 , 16 , 33 , 36 , 37 , 42 and a high participation rate CR (n=4). 9 , 19 , 22 , 40 …”

“…Furthermore, most CR program types undertaken by participants from the studies were carried out in hospitals 7 , 9–11 , 13 , 16 , 19 , 23 , 26–28 , 33 , 37–43 and only the study by Cao et al, 2021 which report home and exercise-based CR with most of the participants had a moderate participation rate (64.66%). 36 Furthermore, two studies did not mention the type of CR program.…”

“… 45 , 47 Lack of support in the patient’s environment can also affect the participation rate of CR. 7 , 11 , 27 , 34 Multidisciplinary support from doctors, nurses, rehabilitation therapists, family, friends, and partners is needed to strengthen their motivation to increase CR adherence.…”

“… 5 , 6 Thus, ensuring adequate precautions are taken to reduce complications and improve the prognosis of CHD patients who have undergone reperfusion therapy is essential. 7–9 …”