Brief lifestyle advice in cardiac care: an experimental study on message source and framing.

OBJECTIVE: Communicating risk information and offering lifestyle advice are important goals in cardiac rehabilitation. However, the most effective way and the most effective source to communicate this information are not yet known. Therefore, we examined the effect of source (cardiologist, physiotherapist) and framing (gain, loss) of brief lifestyle advice on patients' intention-to-change-lifestyle. METHODS: In an online experimental study, 636 cardiac patients (40% female, 67 (10) yrs.) were randomly assigned to one of four textual vignettes. Effect of source and framing on intention-to-change-lifestyle (assessed using a 5-point Likert scale) was analysed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). RESULTS: Patients expressed positive intention-to-change-lifestyle after receiving advice from the cardiologist (M = 4.1) and physiotherapist (M = 3.9). However, patients showed significantly higher intention-to-change-lifestyle after receiving advice from the cardiologist (0.58 [0.54-0.61]) when compared with the physiotherapist (0.52 [0.48-0.56]), (F[1,609] = 7.06, P = 0.01). Gain-framed and loss-framed advice appeared equally effective. However, communicating risks (loss) was remembered by only 9% of patients, whereas 89% remembered benefits (gain). CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows the value of cardiologists and physiotherapists communicating brief lifestyle advice, as cardiac patients expressed positive intention for lifestyle change after receiving advice, irrespective of framing. Lifestyle advice should include benefits due to better recall.

An iterative approach to developing a multifaceted implementation strategy for a complex eHealth intervention within clinical practice.

BACKGROUND: The number of complex eHealth interventions has increased considerably. Despite available implementation theory outlining well-designed strategies, implementing complex interventions within practice proves challenging and often does not lead to sustainable use. To improve sustainability, theory and practice should be addressed during the development of an implementation strategy. By subsequently transparently reporting the executed theory-based steps and their corresponding practice findings, others can learn from these valuable lessons learned. This study outlines the iterative approach by which a multifaceted implementation strategy for a complex eHealth intervention in clinical practice was developed, tested and refined. METHODS: We implemented the BENEFIT program, an advanced eHealth platform with Personal Health Portal facilitating healthy living in cardiac patients. In six iterative phases alternating between theory and practice, the implementation strategy was developed, tested and refined. The initial implementation strategy (phase 1) was drawn up using the Implementation model and RE-AIM. Subsequently, this strategy was further updated in brainstorming sessions and group discussions with twenty key stakeholders from three cardiac care centres and then evaluated in a pilot (phases 2 and 3). RESULTS: The pilot of the program led to the identification of (context-specific) key challenges in practice (phase 4), which were subsequently connected back to broader theory (phase 5) using the Consolidated Framework of Implementation Research (CFIR). In the final phase, practice recommendations tackling the key challenges were formulated (phase 6) based on CFIR theory, the CFIR-ERIC Matching Tool, and stakeholders' input and feedback. These recommendations were then added to the refined strategy. Thus, executing this approach led to the realisation and use of a multifaceted theory-informed practice-based implementation strategy. CONCLUSION: This case study gives an in-depth description of an iterative approach to developing an evidence-based, practice-tailored strategy for implementing a complex eHealth intervention in cardiac care. As such, this study may serve as a blueprint for other researchers aspiring to implement complex eHealth interventions within clinical practice sustainably.

Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Among Psychologists in a Medical Setting: A Survey on Implementation.

BACKGROUND: Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) is an effective treatment for patients with a chronic somatic illness to improve self-management skills and to learn to adjust to their chronic disease and its impact on daily life. However, the implementation of iCBT in clinical practice is challenging. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the current degree of implementation of iCBT among psychologists in a medical setting and discover determinants influencing the implementation of iCBT among nonusers. METHODS: A Web-based survey, based on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), was distributed among psychologists in a medical setting. The survey included questions regarding the current use of iCBT, intention to use iCBT in the future, and operationalized concepts of the UTAUT constructs, that is, performance expectancy (PE), effort expectancy (EE), social influence (SI), and facilitating conditions (FC). RESULTS: In total, 107 (24.8%) psychologists completed the survey. Of them, 16.8% have access to iCBT, 15.9% currently use iCBT, and 21.5% are expected to use iCBT within the next year. The constructs PE, EE, and SI together significantly influenced behavioral intention (BI; mean 3.9 [SD=0.8]) among nonusers (R2=0.490; F4.85=20.405; P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: In spite of an average to high BI, the current implementation of iCBT is rather low among psychologists in a medical setting. Further research should focus on reducing the gap between intention to use and actual use by focusing on influencing the predictive UTAUT constructs.