Electronic Cardiac Rehabilitation (eCardiacRehab) Feasibility Study

eCardiacRehab - a Pragmatic Trial on a Home-based Patient-centered e-Health Programme With Tailored Solutions - Feasibility Study

In Norway, more than 11,000 patients undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) annually. However, a very recent study utilizing registry data show a national average of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) participation of only 14%, despite its proven beneficial effects on readmissions, physical capacity, psychological distress, self-management, and quality of life. CR is strongly recommended in European guidelines. However, uptake is low and is not systematically identifying those in most need of CR. The primary objective of eCardiacRehab is to meet rehabilitation needs of large patient populations regardless of their access to traditional place-based rehabilitation by developing and evaluating the efficacy and cost effectiveness of an interdisciplinary and comprehensive home-based eCardiacRehab programme. eCardiacRehab address patient- and system level challenges in order to increase access to CR. The investigators give particular attention to older patients, women, and those with comorbidities or mental health challenges. Aspects related to continuity of care between specialist and primary care services, health literacy, adherence to treatment, cost effectiveness and ethics are investigated. The investigators will 1) continue to develop the programme with patients, general practitioners, healthcare experts from both specialist and primary care services, and technology developers, 2) develop treatment modules, 3) establish information and communication infrastructure, 4) evaluate the process and efficacy of treatment modules, 5) ensure knowledge development and transfer of competence to the municipalities, and 6) contribute to fulfil the innovation potential for health service and industry partners. eCardiacRehab has the potential to improve interaction and collaboration between primary and secondary care, modernise and digitalise work processes, and develop more coherent and tailored patient pathways. The vision of the home-based eCardiacRehab is to make CR available to all.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adult Norwegian (or Scandinavian) speaking patients (≥ 18 years) who have a Norwegian national identification number,
• With coronary artery disease after percutaneous coronary intervention
• Are living at home and have internet available to them
• Providing signed informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with cognitive impairment that may interfere with the ability to comply with the study protocol
• Severe aortic stenosis
• Severe arrhythmias
• Expected lifetime less than one year as determined by study personnel
• Otherwise clinically unstable
• Not fully revascularized (awaits percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass graft surgery)
• Inability to comply with the study protocol due to any physical disability, somatic disease, or mental problems as determined by study personnel