Think-aloud test of online education for patients with cardiac diseases: do they meet the needs of women?

Patient education is a core component of cardiovascular rehabilitation (CR). Recent guidelines call for tailored materials to support women, given their unique needs and preferences. This study investigated women patient's perspectives of online CR educational materials (Cardiac College, Toronto). Through a cross-sectional design, a think-aloud protocol followed by semistructured qualitative interviews was used to collect data on women's perceptions of the comprehensive educational webpages with regard to content, format, visuals, length/volume, difficulty, applicability, implementability and suggestions for improvement. Thirty-eight current and previous CR program participants completed 1-h Zoom interviews. Transcripts were coded thematically using best practices in NVivo by two researchers independently. Four themes emerged: (I) materials met their needs (content, presentation, and empowerment), (II) suggestions for improvement in presentation (website design, text, and visuals), (III) content (volume, additions, and difficulty), and (IV) optimizing reach and implementability (inclusiveness, barriers, and dissemination). Overall, the education content met women's needs and was relatable, but should be updated for currency, visual appeal, and searchability. Cardiac College for Women may meet these needs and preferences.