This paper is in the following e-collection/theme issue:

TTRN CPH 2022: "Digital Health beyond COVID-19: Lessons Learned" (37)

Published on in Vol 8, No 1 (2022): Jan-Dec

Preprints (earlier versions) of this paper are available at https://preprints.jmir.org/preprint/41491, first published .
Future Patient: Telerehabilitation of Patients With Heart Failure Empower Patients

Future Patient: Telerehabilitation of Patients With Heart Failure Empower Patients

Future Patient: Telerehabilitation of Patients With Heart Failure Empower Patients

Authors of this article:

Birthe Dinesen1 Author Orcid Image ;   Helle Spindler2 Author Orcid Image ;   Jens Refsgaard3 Author Orcid Image ;   Malene Hollingdal3 Author Orcid Image
Article Authors Cited by Tweetations Metrics

    Abstract

    1Laboratory for Welfare Technologies - Telehealth & Telerehabilitation, Sport Sciences - Performance and Technology, Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark

    2Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark

    3Department of Cardiology, Regional Hospital in Viborg, Viborg, Denmark

    Corresponding Author:

    Birthe Dinesen, MSc, PhD

    Laboratory for Welfare Technologies - Telehealth & Telerehabilitation, Sport Sciences - Performance and Technology

    Department of Health Science and Technology

    Aalborg University

    Niels Jernes Vej 12

    Aalborg, 9220

    Denmark

    Phone: 45 20515944

    Email: bid@hst.aau.dk


    Background: Heart failure is one of the most common cardiovascular diseases that causes mortality, and patients’ participation in rehabilitation programs is often low. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Future Patient Telerehabilitation Program developed for patients with heart failure offered a new approach. The aim of the Future Patient program has been to increase the quality of life and educate patients to monitor any worsening of their symptoms. Patients used self-tracking devices for monitoring their physical activity, blood pressure, sleep, respiration, and pulse, with their data transmitted to a shared web platform (called the Heart Portal), which could be accessed by patients, their relatives, and health care professionals across sectors.

    Objective: The aim of this paper is to determine whether the Future Patient Telerehabilitation Program has increased the quality of life of patients with heart failure and to empower them to manage their own disease.

    Methods: A randomized controlled trial (n=140) was conducted. Data from the intervention group (n=70, 50%) on patient-reported outcomes were collected and analyzed using the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire and Spiegel Sleep Questionnaire. Semistructured interviews with 12 patients (n=6, 50% men and n=6, 50% women) were conducted and analyzed.

    Results: The patients participating in the Future Patient program experienced a significant increase in clinical and social well-being as well as in quality of life. The patients participating in the program articulated their experiences in terms of the following themes: a sense of security and an increased sense of empowerment in managing their disease using the Heart Portal. The Heart Portal proved to be a valuable tool for remote monitoring and better communication with health care professionals across sectors.

    Conclusions: Telerehabilitation of patients with heart failure can improve their quality of life and empower them to manage their own disease remotely.

    iproc 2022;8(1):e41491

    doi:10.2196/41491

    Keywords

    telerehabilitation; heart failure; cardiovascular disease 

    Conflicts of Interest

    None declared.

    Edited by T Leung; This is a non–peer-reviewed article. submitted 27.07.22; accepted 19.08.22; published 23.08.22

    Copyright

    ©Birthe Dinesen, Helle Spindler, Jens Refsgaard, Malene Hollingdal. Originally published in Iproceedings (https://www.iproc.org), 23.08.2022.

    This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work, first published in Iproceedings, is properly cited. The complete bibliographic information, a link to the original publication on https://www.iproc.org/, as well as this copyright and license information must be included.