JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Although exercise rehabilitation is safe and effective, the medium- to long-term compliance of patients with coronary heart disease remains low. The promotion of long-term exercise rehabilitation for patients with coronary heart disease deserves attention.

Objective:

We aim to investigate the effect of remote exercise rehabilitation on the investment time and related cognitive level for homebound patients with coronary heart disease, utilizing the Self-evaluation/Condition of exercise - effect perception - internal drive - Persistence behavior (SCeiP) model, in conjunction with WeChat and exercise bracelet.

Methods:

A total of 147 patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention in the cardiovascular department of a Grade III hospital in Jiangsu Province from June 2022 to March 2023 were selected as the study objects by convenience sampling and were randomly divided into experimental group and control group. A remotely conducted and supervised system was applied in both groups. The experimental group received an exercise rehabilitation promotion strategy based on the “SCeiP” model though WeChat and exercise bracelet. The control group received rehabilitation training according to the exercise rehabilitation guide. The days and duration of exercise, level of cardiac rehabilitation cognition, exercise planning and exercise input were analyzed before the intervention and at 1 month and 3 months after the intervention.

Results:

81 (55.1%) men and 66 (44.9%) women were recruited. The completion rate of exercise days was higher in the experimental group compared to the control group at 1 and 3 months post-intervention (t=5.429, P<.001; t=9.113, P<.001). Similarly, completion rate of exercise duration was significantly superior to that of the control group (t=3.471, P=.001; t=5.574, P<.001). The level of autonomy, exercise planning and exercise input in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group at 1 and 3 months post-intervention (P<.01). Additionally, there was a significant reduction in process anxiety and outcome anxiety scores observed in the experimental group (P<.001).Repeated measures ANOVA revealed that the trends in the changes in cognitive function of cardiac rehabilitation in the two groups of patients over time were significantly different (autonomy Ftime*group =9.055, process anxiety Ftime*group =30.790, outcome anxiety Ftime*group =28.186, P<.001). As expected, the exercise planning (t=2.490, P=.014; t=3.379, P<.001) and exercise input (t=2.255, P=.026; t=3.817, P<.001) scores exhibited consistent superiority in the experimental group compared to the control group at 1 and 3 months post-intervention. Interestingly, we found that the exercise planning and exercise input levels in the two groups first increased and then slightly decreased over time, but both were higher than before the intervention (P<.05).

Conclusions:

The remote health intervention based on the “SCeiP” model can effectively improve exercise compliance, exercise planning, exercise input and cognitive levels during cardiac rehabilitation in patients with coronary heart disease. Clinical Trial: The registration ID is ChiCTR2300069463.