An Implementation Science-Informed Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Stress Management in Cardiac Rehabilitation
Principal Investigator
Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is recommended for patients with cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of illness and death among adults in the United States, to reduce rehospitalizations and mortality. However, CR programs which often fail to adequately address the psychosocial stressors that interfere with patients’ participation. Stress management (SM) interventions have been developed to improve both psychological well-being and clinical outcomes in CR participants; however, the extent of these benefits and the factors influencing the implementation of psychosocial management interventions in CR remain unclear. This research project aims to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis using translation and implementation science frameworks to improve widespread adoption of SM interventions. By creating a comprehensive matrix, the study seeks to increase the adoption, integration, and quality of these interventions within current CR practice. Through iterative testing and refinement, the ultimate goal is to create a comprehensive psychosocial management intervention toolkit that can enhance the utilization, delivery, and effectiveness of exercise-based CR.
