3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

(a) Background: Home-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is an attractive alternative for frail older patients who are unable to participate in hospital-based CR. Yet, the feasibility of home-based CR provided by primary care physiotherapists (PTs) to these patients remains uncertain. (b) Objective: To investigate physiotherapists’ (PTs) clinical experience with a guideline-centered, home-based CR protocol for frail older patients. (c) Methods: A qualitative study examined the home-based CR protocol of a randomized controlled trial. Observations and interviews of the CR-trained primary care PTs providing home-based CR were conducted until data saturation. Two researchers separately coded the findings according to the theoretical framework of Gurses. (d) Results: The enrolled PTs (n = 8) had a median age of 45 years (IQR 27–57), and a median work experience of 20 years (IQR 5–33). Three principal themes were identified that influence protocol-adherence by PTs and the feasibility of protocol-implementation: 1) feasibility of exercise testing and the exercise program; 2) patients’ motivation and PTs’ motivational techniques; and 3) interdisciplinary collaboration with other healthcare providers in monitoring patients’ risks. (e) Conclusion: Home-based CR for frail patients seems feasible for PTs. Recommendations on the optimal intensity, use of home-based exercise tests and measurement tools, and interventions to optimize self-regulation are needed to facilitate home-based CR.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)560-575
JournalPhysiotherapy Theory and Practice
Volume39
Issue number3
Early online date2022
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2023

Keywords

  • Cardiovascular diseases
  • cardiac rehabilitation
  • comorbidity
  • frail older patients
  • home-based

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