A mobile phone intervention increases physical activity in people with cardiovascular disease: Results from the HEART randomized controlled trial.

AIM To determine the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of a mobile phone intervention to improve exercise capacity and physical activity behaviour in people with ischaemic heart disease IHD METHODS AND RESULTS In this single blind parallel two arm randomized controlled trial adults n 171 with IHD were randomized to receive a mobile phone delivered intervention HEART n 85 plus usual care or usual care alone n 86 Adult participants aged 18 years or more with a diagnosis of IHD were clinically stable as outpatients able to perform exercise able to understand and write English and had access to the Internet The HEART Heart Exercise And Remote Technologies intervention involved a personalized automated package of text messages and a secure website with video messages aimed at increasing exercise behaviour delivered over 24 weeks All participants were able to access usual community based cardiac rehabilitation which involves encouragement of physical activity and an offer to join a local cardiac support club All outcomes were assessed at baseline and 24 weeks and included peak oxygen uptake PVO2 primary outcome self reported physical activity health related quality of life self efficacy and motivation secondary outcomes Results showed no differences in PVO2 between the two groups difference 0 21 ml kg 1 min 1 95 CI 1 1 0 7 p 0 65 at 24 weeks However significant treatment effects were observed for selected secondary outcomes including leisure time physical activity difference 110 2 min week 95 CI 0 8 221 3 p 0 05 and walking difference 151 4 min week 95 CI 27 6 275 2 p 0 02 There were also significant improvements in self efficacy to be active difference 6 2 95 CI 0 2 12 2 p 0 04 and the general health domain of the SF36 difference 2 1 95 CI 0 1 4 1 p 0 03 at 24 weeks The HEART programme was considered likely to be cost effective for leisure time activity and walking CONCLUSIONS A mobile phone intervention was not effective at increasing exercise capacity over and above usual care The intervention was effective and probably cost effective for increasing physical activity and may have the potential to augment existing cardiac rehabilitation services

Keywords

Adult, At risk for a particular disease or infection, Client, Alignment with local norms, Addressing individual beliefs and practices, Effective resource allocation, Expenses related to service delivery, Pilot, Effectiveness, Randomized, Cardiovascular disease, Short-term, Health education or promotion, Disease management, Internet, SMS, Text, Video