Randomised control trial of an internet-based outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program

INTERVENTION: The project involves the assessment of an electronic Outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation (eOCR) platform, which was designed and developed by the research team at CQUniversity with the assistance of cardiac rehabilitation professionals. The platform is an internet‐based educational content management system that provides the ‘online cardiac case manager’ with the ability to deliver interactive outpatient education, track patient progress by means of an online patient self‐monitoring system and interact with the patient and/or their selected significant others within the security‐protected web‐based platform. The patient view of the eOCR site includes a ‘patient dashboard’ which is specifically tailored by the case manager for the participant to collect, track and display important health and behavioural measures. The site contains a library comprised of readings drawn from existing ‘best practice’ guidelines and the My Heart My Life publication by the Heart Foundation and a workbook that provides interactive educational activities relating to behavioral self management developed by the researchers in previous studies. The site also includes a variety of communication tools aimed at allowing patients to interact with their cardiac case manager, other patients and/or significant others that the patient has invited to take part (the support people are provided with their own login and home pages). Communication tools include email, discussion boards, and an integrated Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) programming link (Skype). The site also maintains records of the patient’s contact details and those of significant others as well as emergency contact details and protocols. The online cardiac case manager has a separate content/patient management structure, which allows them to track the progress in terms of readings, educational activities and patient self‐report data for one or more patients concurrently. The case manager can also interact with the patients under their guidance by way of site email, discussion or VoIP. The current study assesses the efficacy of the use of the platform in the reduction of subsequent cardiovascular risk compared to individuals who undertake regular care. Participants progress at their own rate through a 12‐week educational program CONDITION: cardiac rehabiliations PRIMARY OUTCOME: The primary outcome measure is the risk of recurrent coronary heart disease as assessed by the Framingham Risk Score SECONDARY OUTCOME: Functional Capacity measured by the Duke Activity Status Index INCLUSION CRITERIA: The key inclusion criteria are: eligibility for phase II cardiac rehabilitation program, living in an area serviced by broadband internet service provider and meeting American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) guidelines for inclusion in physical activity/exercise