Building Resilience to Increase Cardiac Rehabilitation Initiation
A Multiphase Optimization Strategy Pilot Factorial Preparation Phase Study
Principal Investigator
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the United States, and the risk of death can be reduced with cardiac rehabilitation (CR). CR is an evidence-based, cost-effective, and accessible multidisciplinary program of exercise and psychoeducation, but most patients referred to CR do not follow through on their health provider’s recommendations due to systemic and person-level barriers. This pilot project aims to create four innovative intervention components that are easily disseminated to improve CR enrollment: (1) a virtual motivational interview to reduce ambivalence towards CR; (2) education about the effect of health behavior on CVD risk and severity; (3) a peer mentor small group virtual meeting with others who successfully completed CR; (4) a physical activity intervention to reduce sedentary behavior. These components will be developed and refined through interviews with CR patients and an electronic health record review to evaluate trauma-related factors in patients who did not enroll in CR. The components will then be pilot-tested in a factorial clinical trial of 32 CR-eligible adults to evaluate their acceptability with patients, the feasibility of the interventions, and potential changes in behavioral targets, trauma, and resilience. Continued refinement of these interventions will hopefully lead to improved enrollment of CR and directly impact the cardiovascular health of patients.
