Feasibility and Initial Efficacy of Remote Home-Based CardiacRehabilitation— A Pilot Study

Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is proven beneficial for patients with cardiovascular diseases. Currently, most healthcare systems in China provides limited CR program toward patients after the cardiac intervention. This is particularly true among the rural areas. Home-based cardiac rehabilitation (HBCR) is used to alternative center (hospital) based in many developed countries. In this proposed research, a pilot study will be carried out to investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of using emergent mobile and information technology to deliver monitoring and feedback function in HBCR program. We aim at establishing the understanding the determinants of a successful home-based rehab program in terms of serviceability, reliability and adaptability of such mobile Health program in China. The findings from this pilot study are hoped to be compared with similar programs in Canada and other developed countries. The sensors used to monitor patients’ health indicators include Heart Rate (HR), Electrocardiography (ECG) and built-in geological sensors in smartphones. The rehabilitation programs will be customized according to the information collected from these sensors, and responses from the patient’s self-assessment. After the 3 months intervention, the participants’ health indicators and the program’s operational data are analyzed to assess the acceptability, feasibility and initial efficacy of the proposed HBCR program.

Faculty Supervisor:

Ian McKillop

Student:

Partner:

Shantou University Medical College

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Education

University:

University of Waterloo

Program: