1. Nikki Gardiner Clinical Lead for Cardiac & Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Leicester’s Research Live – celebrating our success

2. Activate Your Heart© web-based Cardiac Rehabilitation programme
University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
Leicester’s Research Live – celebrating our success

3. Background
In an effort to improve our local uptake rate to Cardiac Rehabilitation (CR) and in response to patients expectations.
We designed a prototype website - part of this work was supported through a Shine innovation award from the Health Foundation.
Test the acceptability and effectiveness of a web based approach to CR as an alternative to our hospital based programme.
Leicester’s Research Live – celebrating our success

4. Benefits. Goal settings 24/7 Structured
Easily integrated into clinical service
Track patient progress
24/7
Standardised reliable information
Open communication
Individualised programme
Leicester’s Research Live – celebrating our success

5. Individual Assessment
The usual measures of :
Exercise capacity using the ISWT.
Quality of Life.
Anxiety & Depression.
Risk factor measures were also recorded:
Smoking status.
Previous exercise habits.
Diet & BMI.
Blood pressure & heart rate/ECG.
An activation code was then given to the patient to log into AYH CR programme

6. Stages of Activate Your Heart
Stage 1 - Exercise safety test
Stage 2 - Record in exercise diary –
accumulative 30 minutes exercise for 5 days.
Update goals
Stage 3 - Record in exercise diary 30 minutes
continuous exercise for 5 days. Quiz
Stage 4 - Record in exercise diary 30 minutes
continuous moderate exercise for 5 days.
Minimum of 4 weeks

8. Knowledge Questionnaires
Topics include:
CHD
Risk factors
Medication
Taken pre & post AYH

9. Knowledge Questionnaires
Number of patients completed Pre questionnaire
Number of patients who completed both pre and post questionnaires
Improved knowledge pre to post
Same
Worse
158 (100%)
139 (88%)
122 (77%)
5 (3%)
12 (8%)

10. Goal Setting Automated goals generated from risk factor profile
Patients can create their own goals
Review and update goals

11. Goals Web patient average set goals = 6 Number of patients
Total number of completed goals/>50%
Goals fully completed
Goals completed equal to or more than 50%
Goals completed less than 50%
No Goals completed
158
138 (77%)
51 (32%)
87 (55%)
13 (8%)
7 (4%)

12. Notifications

13. Educational component

15. Blog

16. Mobile Web
Easy access
Convenient
Access to all sections

17. Administration Features

18. Tracking patients

20. National Audit
‘More should be done to support these options as part of the menu of approaches offered by programmes, as this can only help to improve uptake and adherence to CR. Web based options are presently being used by around 1% of patients and hopefully this approach will become more attractive’

21. Summary
The AYH Cardiac Rehabilitation programme is able to influence physical, psychosocial and behavioural changes in a low to moderate risk group of patients.
Increases patient choice
Tailored to the individual
Excellent patient feedback AYH
Increases capacity
Reduced waiting times
Helps to meet local & national targets include our local tariff for CR.
Releases CR professionals’ time for complex patients

22. Research Published research:
Evaluating the Interactive Web-Based Program, Activate Your Heart, for Cardiac Rehabilitation Patients: A Pilot Study. Brough C, Boyce S, Houchen-Wolloff L, Sewell L, Singh S. J Med Internet Res 2014;16(10):e242 URL: doi: /jmir.3027
Exploring the experience of using a web-based cardiac rehabilitation programme in a primary care angina population: a qualitative study. Reena Devi, Christine Carpenter, John Powell, Sally Singh. International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation | Vol. 21 | No. 9 | pp 434–440
A Web-Based Program Improves Physical Activity Outcomes in a Primary Care Angina Population: Randomized Controlled Trial, Devi R, Powell J, Singh S; J Med Internet Res 2014;16(9):e186, URL: DOI: /jmir.3340, PMID: , PMCID:
Current research:
A Web-Based Cardiac REhabilitatioN Alternative for Those Declining or Dropping Out Of Conventional Rehabilitation: The WREN Feasibility Study. Two site blinded RCT. NIHR RfpB funded study.