Increased motivation for and use of digital services in heart failure patients participating in a telerehabilitation program: a randomized controlled trial

Helle Spindler, Anne-Kirstine Dyrvig, Cathrine Skov Schacksen, Danny Anthonimuthu, Lars Frost, Josefine Dam Gade, Sissel Højsted Kronborg, Kiomars Mahboubi, Jens Refsgaard, Birthe Dinesen, Malene Hollingdal, Lars Kayser, Helle Spindler, Anne-Kirstine Dyrvig, Cathrine Skov Schacksen, Danny Anthonimuthu, Lars Frost, Josefine Dam Gade, Sissel Højsted Kronborg, Kiomars Mahboubi, Jens Refsgaard, Birthe Dinesen, Malene Hollingdal, Lars Kayser

Abstract

Background: eHealth literacy (eHL) may be an important factor in the adoption of telerehabilitation. However, little is known about how telerehabilitation affects patients' eHL. The current study evaluated changes over time in eHL for heart failure (HF) patients in a telerehabilitation program (the Future Patient Program) compared to a traditional rehabilitation program.

Methods: As part of a randomized controlled trial comparing telerehabilitation with traditional rehabilitation, 137 HF patients completed the eHealth Literacy Questionnaire (eHLQ) at 6 and 12 months of their respective rehabilitation programs.

Results: At 6 months, the telerehabilitation group indicated higher levels of 'using technology to process health information' and 'motivated to engage with digital services'. This difference was consistent over time, and we found no other differences between groups or over time with regard to eHL.

Conclusions: Providing a digital toolbox for processing health information to HF patients may aid in increasing their eHL, motivation, and ability to engage with digital services in HF patients. Especially, if the technology is designed to support patient needs in terms of the educational content of the program. Preferably technology should be provided early on in the rehabilitation process to ensure optimal outcome.

Trial registration: The study was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03388918).

Keywords: Heart failure (HF); e-health literacy; patient education; telerehabilitation.

Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at https://mhealth.amegroups.com/article/view/10.21037/mhealth-21-56/coif). DA reports that using AUB (library) for study materials and articles, and software used from Aalborg University: SPSS. LF reports educational activities for Pfizer. Malene Hollingdal reports study nurse salary as their part in the study. The other authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

2022 mHealth. All rights reserved.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
CONSORT diagram for the eHealth literacy sub-study in the Future Patient Telerehabilitation Program.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Phases in the Future Patient Telerehabilitation Program. The figure was Originally published in (8) JMIR Research Protocols (http://www.researchprotocols.org), 19.09.2019 ©Birthe Dinesen, Lars Dittmann, Josefine Dam Gade, Cecilia Klitgaard Jørgensen, Malene Hollingdal, Soeren Leth, Camilla Melholt, Helle Spindler, Jens Refsgaard.

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