Measurement properties of utility-based health-related quality of life measures in cardiac rehabilitation and secondary prevention programs: a systematic review.

PURPOSE: To identify utility-based patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) for assessing health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in cardiac rehabilitation and secondary prevention programs (CR) and appraise existing evidence on their measurement properties. Secondly, to link their items to the International Classification of Functioning Disability and Health (ICF) and the International Consortium of Health Outcome Measures (ICHOM) domains for cardiovascular disease (CVD). METHODS: Eight databases were searched. The review followed the COSMIN and JBI guidelines for measurement properties systematic reviews and PRISMA 2020 reporting guidelines. Non-experimental and observational empirical studies of patients ≥ 18 years of age with CVD undergoing CR and assessed quality of life (QoL) or HRQoL using utility-based PROMs or one accompanied by health state utilities were included. RESULTS: Nine PROMs were identified with evidence on measurement properties for three measures: the German translations of SF-12, EQ-5D-5L, and MacNew heart disease HRQoL questionnaire. There was moderate quality evidence for responsiveness and hypothesis testing of the SF-12 and EQ-5D-5L, and high-quality evidence for responsiveness and hypothesis testing for the MacNew. All items of SF-12 and EQ-5D were linked to ICF categories, but four items of the MacNew were not classified or defined. All the PROM domains were mapped onto similar constructs from the ICHOM global sets. CONCLUSION: Three utility-based PROMs validated in CR were identified: the German versions of the EQ-5D and SF-12 and the MacNew questionnaire. These PROMs are linked to a breadth of ICF categories and all ICHOM global sets. Additional validation studies of PROMs in CR are required.

Clinical effectiveness of cardiac rehabilitation and barriers to completion in patients of low socioeconomic status in rural areas: A mixed-methods study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate cardiac rehabilitation utilisation and effectiveness, factors, needs and barriers associated with non-completion. DESIGN: We used the mixed-methods design with concurrent triangulation of a retrospective cohort and a qualitative study. SETTING: Economically disadvantaged areas in rural Australia. PARTICIPANTS: Patients (≥18 years) referred to cardiac rehabilitation through a central referral system and living in rural areas of low socioeconomic status. MAIN MEASURES: A Cox survival model balanced by inverse probability weighting was used to assess the association between cardiac rehabilitation utilization and 12-month mortality/cardiovascular readmissions. Associations with non-completion were tested by logistic regression. Barriers and needs to cardiac rehabilitation completion were investigated through a thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews and focus groups (n = 28). RESULTS: Among 16,159 eligible separations, 44.3% were referred, and 11.2% completed cardiac rehabilitation. Completing programme (HR 0.65; 95%CI 0.57-0.74; p < 0.001) led to a lower risk of cardiovascular readmission/death. Living alone (OR 1.38; 95%CI 1.00-1.89; p = 0.048), having diabetes (OR 1.48; 95%CI 1.02-2.13; p = 0.037), or having depression (OR 1.54; 95%CI 1.14-2.08; p = 0.005), were associated with a higher risk of non-completion whereas enrolment in a telehealth programme was associated with a lower risk of non-completion (OR 0.26; 95%CI 0.18-0.38; p < 0.001). Themes related to logistic issues, social support, transition of care challenges, lack of care integration, and of person-centeredness emerged as barriers to completion. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac rehabilitation completion was low but effective in reducing mortality/cardiovascular readmissions. Understanding and addressing barriers and needs through mixed methods can help tailor cardiac rehabilitation programmes to vulnerable populations and improve completion and outcomes.

The Caring Life Course Theory: Opening new frontiers in care-A cardiac rehabilitation example.

AIM(S): To operationalize the Caring Life Course Theory (CLCT) as a framework for improving cardiac rehabilitation (CR) engagement and informing ways to address disparities in rural, low socio-economic areas. METHODS: A secondary analysis of data collected from 15 CR programmes to identify CR patterns through the CLCT lens using a mixed-methods approach. All analytical processes were conducted in NVivo, coding qualitative data through thematic analysis based on CLCT constructs. Relationships among these constructs were quantitatively assessed using Jaccard coefficients and hierarchical clustering via dendrogram analysis to identify related clusters. RESULTS: A strong interconnectedness among constructs: 'care from others', 'capability', 'care network' and 'care provision' (coefficient = 1) highlights their entangled crucial role in CR. However, significant conceptual disparities between 'care biography' and 'fundamental care' (coefficient = 0.4) and between 'self-care' and 'care biography' (coefficient = 0.384615) indicate a need for more aligned and personalized care approaches within CR. CONCLUSION: The CLCT provides a comprehensive theoretical and practical framework to address disparities in CR, facilitating a personalized approach to enhance engagement in rural and underserved regions. IMPLICATIONS: Integrating CLCT into CR programme designs could effectively address participation challenges, demonstrating the theory's utility in developing targeted, accessible care interventions/solutions. IMPACT: Explored the challenge of low CR engagement in rural, low socio-economic settings. Uncovered care provision, transitions and individual care biographies' relevance for CR engagement. Demonstrated the potential of CLCT to inform/transform CR services for underserved populations, impacting practices and outcomes. REPORTING METHOD: EQUATOR-MMR-RHS. PATIENT CONTRIBUTION: A consumer co-researcher contributed to all study phases.

From Promise to Practice: How Health Researchers Understand and Promote Transdisciplinary Collaboration.

There is an increasing emphasis on transdisciplinary research to address the complex challenges faced by health systems. However, research has not adequately explored how members of transdisciplinary research teams perceive, understand, and promote transdisciplinary collaboration. As such, there is a need to investigate collaborative behaviors, knowledge, and the impacts of transdisciplinary research. To address this gap, we conducted a longitudinal realist evaluation of transdisciplinary collaboration within a 5-year National Health and Medical Research Council-funded Center of Research Excellence in Transdisciplinary Frailty Research. The current study aimed to explore researchers' perceptions and promotion of transdisciplinary research specifically within the context of frailty research using qualitative methods. Participants described transdisciplinary research as a collaborative and integrative approach that involves individuals from various disciplines working together to tackle complex research problems. However, participants often used terms like interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary interchangeably, indicating that a shared understanding of transdisciplinary research is needed. Barriers to transdisciplinary collaboration included time constraints, geographical distance, and entrenched collaboration patterns. To overcome these challenges, participants suggested implementing strategies such as creating a shared vision and goals, establishing appropriate collaboration systems and structures, and role modeling collaborative behaviors, values, and attitudes. Our findings underscore the need for practical knowledge in developing transdisciplinary collaboration and leadership skills across different career stages. In the absence of formal training, sustained and immersive programs that connect researchers with peers, educators, and role models from various disciplines and provide experiential learning opportunities, may be valuable in fostering successful transdisciplinary collaboration.

Clinical Effectiveness and Utilisation of Cardiac Rehabilitation After Hospital Discharge: Data Linkage Analysis of 84,064 Eligible Discharged Patients (2016-2021).

BACKGROUND: Despite the highest levels of evidence on cardiac rehabilitation (CR) effectiveness, its translation into practice is compromised by low participation. AIM: This study aimed to investigate CR utilisation and effectiveness in South Australia. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study used data linkage of clinical and administrative databases from 2016 to 2021 to assess the association between CR utilisation (no CR received, commenced without completing, or completed) and the composite primary outcome (mortality/cardiovascular re-admissions within 12 months after discharge). Cox survival models were adjusted for sociodemographic and clinical data and applied to a population balanced by inverse probability weighting. Associations with non-completion were assessed by logistic regression. RESULTS: Among 84,064 eligible participants, 74,189 did not receive CR, with 26,833 of the 84,064 (31.9%) participants referred. Of these, 9,875 (36.8%) commenced CR, and 7,681 of the 9,875 (77.8%) completed CR. Median waiting time from discharge to commencement was 40 days (interquartile range, 23-79 days). Female sex (odds ratio [OR] 1.12; 95% CI 1.01-1.24; p=0.024), depression (OR 1.17; 95% CI 1.05-1.30; p=0.002), and waiting time >28 days (OR 1.15; 95% CI 1.05-1.26; p=0.005) were associated with higher odds of non-completion, whereas enrolment in a telehealth program (OR 0.35; 95% CI 0.31-0.40; p<0.001) was associated with lower odds of non-completion. Completing CR (hazard ratio [HR] 0.62; 95% CI 0.58-0.66; p<0.001) was associated with a lower risk of 12-month mortality/cardiovascular re-admissions. Commencing without completing was also associated with decreased risk (HR 0.81; 95% CI 0.73-0.90; p<0.001), but the effect was lower than for those completing CR (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) attendance is associated with lower all-cause mortality/cardiovascular re-admissions, with CR completion leading to additional benefits. Quality improvement initiatives should include promoting referral, women's participation, access to telehealth, and reduction of waiting times to increase completion.

My Wellbeing Journal: Development of a communication and goal-setting tool to improve care for older adults with chronic conditions and multimorbidity.

BACKGROUND: Chronic conditions and multimorbidity, the presence of two or more chronic conditions, are increasingly common in older adults. Effective management of chronic conditions and multimorbidity in older adults requires a collaborative and person-centred approach that considers the individual's goals, preferences and priorities. However, ensuring high-quality personalised care for older adults with multimorbidity can be challenging due to the complexity of their care needs, limited time and a lack of patient preparation to discuss their personal goals and preferences with their healthcare team. OBJECTIVE: To codesign a communication and goal-setting tool, My Wellbeing Journal, to support personalised care planning for older adults with chronic conditions and multimorbidity. DESIGN: We drew on an experience-based codesign approach to develop My Wellbeing Journal. This article reports on the final end-user feedback, which was collected via an online survey with older adults and their carers. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Older adults with chronic conditions, multimorbidity and informal carers living in Australia. Personalised care planning was considered in the context of primary care. RESULTS: A total of 88 participants completed the online survey. The survey focused on participants' feedback on the tool in terms of effectiveness, efficiency, satisfaction and errors encountered. This feedback resulted in modifications to My Wellbeing Journal, which can be used during clinical encounters to facilitate communication, goal setting and progress tracking. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians and carers can use the tool to guide discussions with older adults about their care planning and help them set realistic goals that are meaningful to them. The findings of this study could be used to inform the development of recommendations for healthcare providers to implement person-centred, goal-oriented care for older adults with chronic conditions and multimorbidity. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: Older adults living with chronic conditions and multimorbidity and their carers have contributed to the development of a tool that has the potential to significantly enhance the experience of personalised care planning. Their direct involvement as collaborators has ensured that the tool is optimised to meet the standards of effectiveness and usability.

Measuring fundamental care using complexity science: A descriptive case study of a methodological innovation.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: This paper presents an exploratory account of an innovative methodology to record and evaluate fundamental care. Fundamental care is defined as the care required by everyone for survival, health and welfare. BACKGROUND: Fundamental care has been informed by the development and testing of the Fundamentals of Care Framework, which describes how fundamental care is complex and multidimensional, and consists of three interrelated dimensions and 38 elements. This accords with a broader re-examination of care provision as part of a complex adaptive system in which existing linear models of cause and effect are inadequate to describe the totality of activity. DESIGN: Informed by graph theory and complexity science, this paper presents a novel methodological innovation. It uses the Fundamentals of Care Framework to create a Matrix to quantify the relationships between different elements within the Framework. METHODS: We use a Matrix methodology to process care recipient narratives to generate three outputs: a heat map, a summary table and a network analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The three outputs serve to quantify and evaluate fundamental care in a multidimensional manner. They capture different perspectives (care recipients and their families, direct care providers and care managers) to improve care outcomes. The future aim is to advance this exploration into digitalising and operationalising the Matrix in a user-friendly manner for it to become a real-time mechanism to evaluate and potentially predict patterns of fundamental care.

"You Are By No Means Alone": A Netnographic Study of Self-Care Support in an Online Community for Older Adults.

Online peer-to-peer communities provide environments in which people with similar health concerns can interact and exchange information that can support self-care of long-term conditions. However, current theories have not adequately accounted for how self-care support is enacted in online communities. We conducted an observational netnography to identify and analyze posts in a publicly accessible online community (discussion forum boards) designed for older people. A Straussian grounded theory approach was used to examine 659 posts in health-related message boards. Self-care support involved the construction of three interrelated identities: (1) the support seeking self, in which members described problems and requested information; (2) the empathizing self, in which they described similar experiences and offered support; and (3) the influencing self, in which they provided information or advice. Online communities appear to be an important source of peer support and information and may be a cost-effective approach to supplement standard care.

Investigating salience strategies to counteract obesity.

The investigation of the characteristics and attributes that make a brand prominent for shoppers is known as salience research. This line of study concentrates on influencing buying behaviors via the manipulation of shopping environments and food products. Such promotional strategies successfully attract massive food sales and therefore have been associated with changes in dietary patterns and the epidemic expansion of non-communicable diseases, like obesity. Marketers have empirically proven that global buying patterns are influenced by their salience strategies and techniques. However, despite the significance of such methods, empirical salience investigations have rarely been extended beyond their primary business focus to the field of health promotion. Therefore, this study is presenting a way of transferring the salience knowledge to the health promotion field in order to track dietary choices and possibly gain information to identify buying and eating behaviors connected to obesity. The salience literature from various disciplines permits to hypothesize that consumers are more likely to have unhealthy diets when food-choices and conditions are saliently manipulated. A quasi-experimental method (combining salience measures with Bayesian analysis) was used to test this proposition. The results support the hypothesis and endorse the introduced research tool. As predicted, data reflect the latest national overweight and obesity statistics and suggest that habitual unhealthy diets are more likely when salience strategies link food products to taste, social and emotional attributes. These preliminary findings encourage further investigation to enhance the method as a possible epidemiological tool.

Piloting a Big Data Epidemiology Approach to Support Frail, Homebound, and Bedridden People.

Frail, homebound, and bedridden people (FHBP) are people living at home whose daily life is physically limited to the boundary of their houses because of their ongoing health, energy, and psychosocial or socio-functional impairments. This definition needs a scientific, systematic, and data-driven view of the distribution (frequency, pattern) and determinants (causes, risk factors) of health-related states and adverse events experienced by FHBP. Thus, we piloted a big data epidemiology approach (Multiple Correspondence Analysis and data visualization) from 300 survey responses about FHBP experiences and identified a positive correlation between perceived health status and reported impairments.

A Human-Centered Approach to Measuring the Impact of Evidence-Based Online Resources.

Evidence-based online resources aim to combat vulnerabilities associated with health misinformation, evidence misalignment, and science illiteracy. Yet, it is a challenge to measure and demonstrate their impacts beyond looking at proxies for success (e.g., numbers of followers and likes). Addressing this gap, we introduce an emerging evaluation and verify its functionality in delivering optimal impact and sustainability measures for an evidence-based video resource on frailty.

Effectiveness of alternative vs traditional exercises on cardiac rehabilitation program utilization in women with or at high risk of cardiovascular disease: a systematic review protocol.

OBJECTIVE: This review will evaluate the effectiveness of alternative vs traditional forms of exercise on cardiac rehabilitation program utilization and other outcomes in women with or at high risk of cardiovascular disease. INTRODUCTION: Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation programs improve health outcomes in women with or at high risk of cardiovascular disease. However, such programs are underutilized worldwide, particularly among women. Some women perceive traditional gym-based exercise in cardiac rehabilitation programs (eg, typically treadmills, cycle ergometers, traditional resistance training) to be excessively rigorous and unpleasant, resulting in diminished participation and completion. Alternative forms of exercise such as yoga, tai chi, qi gong, or Pilates may be more enjoyable and motivating exercise options for women, enhancing engagement in rehabilitation programs. However, the effectiveness of these alternative exercises in improving program utilization is still inconsistent and needs to be systematically evaluated and synthesized. INCLUSION CRITERIA: This review will focus on randomized controlled trials of studies measuring the effectiveness of alternative vs traditional forms of exercise on cardiac rehabilitation program utilization as well as clinical, physiological, or patient-reported outcomes in women with or at high risk of cardiovascular disease. METHODS: The review will follow the JBI methodology for systematic reviews of effectiveness. Databases including MEDLINE (Ovid), CINAHL (EBSCOhost), Cochrane CENTRAL, Embase (Ovid), Emcare (Ovid), Scopus, Web of Science, LILACS, and PsycINFO (Ovid) will be searched. Two independent reviewers will screen articles and then extract and synthesize data. Methodological quality will be assessed using JBI's standardized instruments. GRADE will be used to determine the certainty of evidence. REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42022354996.

Effectiveness of nurse-led interventions versus usual care to manage hypertension and lifestyle behaviour: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIMS: This review aimed to investigate the effectiveness of nurse-led interventions vs. usual care on hypertension management, lifestyle behaviour, and patients' knowledge of hypertension and associated risk factors. METHODS: A systematic review with meta-analysis was conducted following Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidelines. MEDLINE (Ovid), EmCare (Ovid), CINAHL (EBSCO), Cochrane library, and ProQuest (Ovid) were searched from inception to 15 February 2022. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining the effect of nurse-led interventions on hypertension management were identified. Title and abstract, full text screening, assessment of methodological quality, and data extraction were conducted by two independent reviewers using JBI tools. A statistical meta-analysis was conducted using STATA version 17.0. RESULTS: A total of 37 RCTs and 9731 participants were included. The overall pooled data demonstrated that nurse-led interventions may reduce systolic blood pressure (mean difference -4.66; 95% CI -6.69, -2.64; I2 = 83.32; 31 RCTs; low certainty evidence) and diastolic blood pressure (mean difference -1.91; 95% CI -3.06, -0.76; I2 = 79.35; 29 RCTs; low certainty evidence) compared with usual care. The duration of interventions contributed to the magnitude of blood pressure reduction. Nurse-led interventions had a positive impact on lifestyle behaviour and effectively modified diet and physical activity, but the effect on smoking and alcohol consumption was inconsistent. CONCLUSION: This review revealed the beneficial effects of nurse-led interventions in hypertension management compared with usual care. Integration of nurse-led interventions in routine hypertension treatment and prevention services could play an important role in alleviating the rising global burden of hypertension. REGISTRATION: PROSPERO: CRD42021274900.

Effectiveness of cardiac rehabilitation programs on medication adherence in patients with cardiovascular disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Education to improve medication adherence is one of the core components of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs. However, the evidence on the effectiveness of CR programs on medication adherence is conflicting. Therefore, we aimed to summarize the effectiveness of CR programs versus standard care on medication adherence in patients with cardiovascular disease. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted. Seven databases and clinical trial registries were searched for published and unpublished articles from database inception to 09 Feb 2022. Only randomised controlled trials and quasi-experimental studies were included. Two independent reviewers conducted the screening, extraction, and appraisal. The JBI methodology for effectiveness reviews and PRISMA 2020 guidelines were followed. A statistical meta-analysis of included studies was pooled using RevMan version 5.4.1. Results: In total 33 studies were included with 16,677 participants. CR programs increased medication adherence by 14 % (RR = 1.14; 95 % CI: 1.07 to 1.22; p = 0.0002) with low degree of evidence certainty. CR also lowered the risk of dying by 17 % (RR = 0.83; 95 % CI: 0.69 to 1.00; p = 0.05); primary care and emergency department visit by mean difference of 0.19 (SMD = -0.19; 95 % CI: -0.30 to -0.08; p = 0.0008); and improved quality of life by 0.93 (SMD = 0.93; 95 % CI: 0.38 to 1.49; p = 0.0010). But no significant difference was observed in lipid profiles, except with total cholesterol (SMD = -0.26; 95 % CI: -0.44 to -0.07; p = 0.006) and blood pressure levels. Conclusions: CR improves medication adherence with a low degree of evidence certainty and non-significant changes in lipid and blood pressure levels. This result requires further investigation.

Co-designing, measuring, and optimizing innovations and solutions within complex adaptive health systems.

Objective: To introduce, describe, and demonstrate the emergence and testing of an evaluation method that combines different logics for co-designing, measuring, and optimizing innovations and solutions within complex adaptive health systems. Method: We describe the development and preliminary testing of a framework to evaluate new ways of using and implementing knowledge (innovations) and technological solutions to solve problems via co-design methods and measurable approaches such as data science. The framework is called PROLIFERATE; it is initially located within the ecological logic: complexity science, by investigating the evolving and emergent properties of systems, but also embraces the mechanistic logic of implementation science (IS) (i.e., getting evidence-based interventions into practice); and the social logic, as the study of individuals, groups, and organizations. Integral to this logic mixture is measuring person-centered parameters (i.e., comprehension, emotional responses, barriers, motivations, and optimization strategies) concerning any evaluated matter across the micro, meso, and macro levels of systems. We embrace the principles of Nilsen's taxonomy to demonstrate its adaptability by comparing and encompassing the normalization process theory, the 2 × 2 conceptual map of influence on behaviors, and PROLIFERATE. Results: Snapshots of ongoing research in different healthcare settings within Australia are offered to demonstrate how PROLIFERATE can be used for co-designing innovations, tracking their optimization process, and evaluating their impacts. The exemplification involves the evaluation of Health2Go (the design and implementation of an innovative procedure: interdisciplinary learning within an allied health service-community-based) and RAPIDx_AI (an artificial intelligence randomized clinical trial being tested to improve the cardiac care of patients within emergency departments-tertiary care). Conclusion: PROLIFERATE is one of the first frameworks to combine ecological, mechanistic, and social logic models to co-design, track, and evaluate complex interventions while operationalizing an innovative complexity science approach: the knowledge translation complexity network model (KT-cnm). It adds a novel perspective to the importance of stakeholders' agency in the system by considering their sociodemographic characteristics and experiences within different healthcare settings (e.g., procedural innovations such as "interdisciplinary learning" for Health2Go, and tech-enabled solutions such as RAPIDx_AI). Its structured facilitation processes engage stakeholders in dynamic and productive ways while measuring and optimizing innovation within the complexities of health systems.

Wicked problems in a post-truth political economy: a dilemma for knowledge translation.

The discipline of knowledge translation (KT) emerged as a way of systematically understanding and addressing the challenges of applying health and medical research in practice. In light of ongoing and emerging critique of KT from the medical humanities and social sciences disciplines, KT researchers have become increasingly aware of the complexity of the translational process, particularly the significance of culture, tradition and values in how scientific evidence is understood and received, and thus increasingly receptive to pluralistic notions of knowledge. Hence, there is now an emerging view of KT as a highly complex, dynamic, and integrated sociological phenomenon, which neither assumes nor creates knowledge hierarchies and neither prescribes nor privileges scientific evidence. Such a view, however, does not guarantee that scientific evidence will be applied in practice and thus poses a significant dilemma for KT regarding its status as a scientific and practice-oriented discipline, particularly within the current sociopolitical climate. Therefore, in response to the ongoing and emerging critique of KT, we argue that KT must provide scope for relevant scientific evidence to occupy an appropriate position of epistemic primacy in public discourse. Such a view is not intended to uphold the privileged status of science nor affirm the "scientific logos" per se. It is proffered as a counterbalance to powerful social, cultural, political and market forces that are able to challenge scientific evidence and promote disinformation to the detriment of democratic outcomes and the public good.

Health System Enablers and Barriers to Continuity of Care for First Nations Peoples Living with Chronic Disease.

Introduction: Failings in providing continuity of care following an acute event for a chronic disease contribute to care inequities for First Nations Peoples in Australia, Canada, and Aotearoa (New Zealand). Methods: A rapid narrative review, including primary studies published in English from Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Central, concerning chronic diseases (cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, and related complications), was conducted. Barriers and enablers to continuity of care for First Nations Peoples were explored considering an empirical lens from the World Health Organization framework on integrated person-centred health services. Results: Barriers included a need for more community initiatives, health and social care networks, and coaching and peer support. Enabling strategies included care adapted to patients' cultural beliefs and behavioural, personal, and family influences; continued and trusting relationships among providers, patients, and caregivers; and provision of flexible, consistent, adaptable care along the continuum. Discussion: The support and co-creation of care solutions must be a dialogical participatory process adapted to each community. Conclusions: Health and social care should be harmonised with First Nations Peoples' cultural beliefs and family influences. Sustainable strategies require a co-design commitment for well-funded flexible care plans considering coaching and peer support across the lifespan.

Cardiac rehabilitation, physical activity, and the effectiveness of activity monitoring devices on cardiovascular patients: an umbrella review of systematic reviews.

AIMS: To consolidate the evidence on the effectiveness of activity-monitoring devices and mobile applications on physical activity and health outcomes of patients with cardiovascular disease who attended cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programmes. METHODS AND RESULTS: An umbrella review of published randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses was conducted. Nine databases were searched from inception to 9 February 2022. Search and data extraction followed the JBI methodology for umbrella reviews and PRISMA guidelines. Nine systematic reviews met the inclusion criteria, comparing outcomes of participants in CR programmes utilizing devices/applications, to patients without access to CR with devices/applications. A wide range of physical, clinical, and behavioural outcomes were reported, with results from 18 712 participants. Meta-analyses reported improvements in physical activity, minutes/week [standardized mean difference (SMD) 0.23, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.10-0.35] and activity levels (SMD 0.29, 95% CI 0.07-0.51), and a reduction in sedentariness [risk ratio (RR) 0.54, 95% CI 0.39-0.75] in CR participants, compared with usual care. Of clinical outcomes, the risk of re-hospitalization reduced significantly (RR 0.49, 95% CI 0.27-0.89), and there was reduction (non-significant) in mortality (RR 0.27, 95% CI 0.05-1.54). From the behavioural outcomes, reviews reported improvements in smoking behaviour (RR 0.87, 95% CI 0.67-1.13) and total diet quality intake (RR 0.79, 95% CI 0.66-0.94) among CR patients. CONCLUSIONS: The use of devices/applications was associated with increase in activity, healthy behaviours, and reductions in clinical indicators. Although most effect sizes indicate limited clinical benefits, the broad consistency of the narrative suggests devices/applications are effective at improving CR patients' outcomes.

Measurement properties of utility-based health-related quality-of-life measures in cardiac rehabilitation: a systematic review protocol.

OBJECTIVE: This review will identify and appraise existing evidence on the measurement properties of utility-based health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) measures used in cardiac rehabilitation programs. The review will map the measure domains against the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health and the International Consortium of Health Outcome Measures domains for cardiovascular disease. INTRODUCTION: Improving HRQoL is an international key indicator for delivering high-quality and person-centered secondary prevention programs. Many instruments and measures assess HRQoL in individuals undergoing cardiac rehabilitation. Utility-based measures are suitable for calculating quality-adjusted life years, a required outcome metric in cost-utility analysis. Cost-utility analysis requires the use of utility-based HRQoL measures. However, there is no consensus on which utility-based measure is best for populations undergoing cardiac rehabilitation. INCLUSION CRITERIA: Eligible studies will include patients aged ≥18 years with cardiovascular disease who are undergoing cardiac rehabilitation. Empirical studies that assess quality of life or HRQoL using a utility-based, health-related, patient-reported outcome measure or a measure accompanied by health state utilities will be eligible. Studies must report at least 1 of the following measurement properties: reliability, validity, responsiveness. METHODS: This review will follow the JBI methodology for systematic reviews of measurement properties. The following databases will be searched from inception to the present: MEDLINE, Emcare, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL, Web of Science Core Collection, Informit, PsyclNFO, REHABDATA, and the Cochrane Library. Studies will be critically appraised using the The COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health status Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) risk of bias checklist. The review will be reported in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42022349395.

Effectiveness of activity-monitoring devices in patients with cardiovascular disease participating in cardiac rehabilitation programs: an umbrella review protocol.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the review is to investigate the effect of activity-monitoring devices and mobile applications on physical activity and health outcomes of patients with cardiovascular disease who are participating in cardiac rehabilitation programs. INTRODUCTION: Supporting patients with cardiovascular conditions to achieve and maintain healthy physical activity levels is the cornerstone of cardiac rehabilitation programs. The effectiveness of activity-monitoring devices and mobile applications (such as physical activity interventions) utilizing consumer-grade monitoring devices and applications to support patients to improve exercise levels during and after program completion has been investigated. Several systematic reviews evaluating the effectiveness of monitoring devices and applications have indicated varying clinical impact, depending on patient characteristics, stage of rehabilitation, and type of intervention. INCLUSION CRITERIA: This review will consider systematic reviews and/or meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials of patients who participated in cardiac rehabilitation programs that included a physical activity intervention that incorporated activity monitoring using electronic devices and/or mobile applications and reported activity and patient health outcomes. METHODS: MEDLINE, Embase, Sport Discus, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Scopus, CINAHL, the International Network of Agencies for Health Technology Assessment database, Epistemonikos, and Web of Science will be searched from inception to the present. PROSPERO will be searched for unpublished reviews. Articles will be screened by two independent reviewers for inclusion, and methodological quality will be assessed using a JBI critical appraisal tool. Data will be extracted from systematic reviews and a data synthesis of findings will be presented. The certainty will be assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION NUMBER: PROSPERO CRD42022298877.