Key result
Qualitative analysis of 23 patients who dropped out of cardiac rehabilitation identified three main themes: challenges living with CVD, perceived program advantages/disadvantages, and unmet needs.
Why the study?
Participation in cardiac rehabilitation programs remains suboptimal, making it urgently needed to understand the reasons behind program dropout from the patient perspective.
What factors impact patient dropout from cardiac rehabilitation programs?
What factors impact patient dropout from cardiac rehabilitation programs?
Understanding patient-reported barriers to cardiac rehabilitation, such as unmet needs and challenges living with CVD, highlights the need for personalized engagement and diverse delivery modes to improve completion rates.
Highlights need to assess patient readiness for cardiac rehab; hypothesis-generating for retention strategies in future studies.
BACKGROUND: Cardiac rehabilitation programs (CRP) are effective evidence-based secondary prevention programs that reduce morbidity and mortality in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, participation remains suboptimal, resulting in under-treatment and greater risk for recurrent cardiac events. Understanding the reasons behind CRP dropout is urgently needed to inform the development of programs that best meet patient needs and support sustained engagement. AIMS: The aim of this study was to identify and understand factors impacting CRP dropout from the patient perspective. METHODS: A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews was undertaken to examine the experience of 23 patients who dropped out of a CRP within a large urban hospital in British Columbia, Canada. Data were coded, analyzed using the constant comparison technique, and organized thematically. RESULTS: Participants described multiple challenges when attempting to complete CRP. Analysis of the data led to the identification of three main categories: (1) challenges living with CVD, (2) perceived advantages and disadvantages of CRP, and (3) unmet needs during CRP. LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION: In the practice setting, assessment of readiness to engage in CRP, alongside patient preferences and engagement needs, should be undertaken for maximum CRP uptake and completion. Providing diverse modes of CRP delivery, along with exploring the impact of virtual options as compared to traditional in-person programs, will further advance the CRP evidence and may help address pervasive access barriers.
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Lee et al. (2022) studied Cardiovascular disease (n=23). Cardiac rehabilitation program dropout was evaluated on Factors impacting cardiac rehabilitation program dropout from the patient perspective. Qualitative analysis of 23 patients who dropped out of cardiac rehabilitation identified three main themes: challenges living with CVD, perceived program advantages/disadvantages, and unmet needs.
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