What Do Patients Talk About? A Qualitative Analysis of Online Chat Sessions with Healthcare Specialists During a "Virtual" Cardiac Rehabilitation Program.
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INTRODUCTION Cardiac rehabilitation programs CRPs are effective at reducing cardiovascular disease CVD risk yet attendance in these programs remains low due to geographic constraints In a previously conducted randomized trial we demonstrated that a virtual CRP vCRP delivered over the Internet reduced risk for CVD The current investigation has reviewed the online chat sessions between participants and healthcare providers HCP to describe the content of discussions during the vCRP intervention MATERIALS AND METHODS Participants were recruited from two geographically isolated areas in British Columbia Canada without in person CRP or a cardiologist serving the area The vCRP among other elements included scheduled one on one chat sessions with a dietician exercise specialist and nurse to mimic standard CRP consultations The chat sessions were reviewed for content and themes Multiple chat sessions between participants and a single care provider were also analyzed to describe how chat content progressed through multiple sessions RESULTS A total of 38 participants participated in the vCRP intervention From the 122 chat sessions between participants and HCP during the vCRP the main themes identified were Managing Health and Lifestyle Continuity of Care and Getting Care from a Distance Within each theme sub themes were also identified CONCLUSIONS The vCRP chat sessions fulfilled the role of face to face consultations with HCP that are standard in hospital based CRP and addressed patient concerns facilitating remote patient provider interaction and covering topics on exercise diet and positive behavior changes to limit risk factors for future heart problems