ArticleBMC health services research2024
Feasibility of early digital health rehabilitation after cardiac surgery in the elderly: a qualitative study.
Article in BMC health services research, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 6 citations in OpenAlex.
- Factors Influencing the Uptake of Digital Health Interventions for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Among Healthcare Providers: A Systematic Review.Global heart · 2026Pooled it
- Impact of tele-exercise on quality of life, physical fitness, functional capacity and strength in different adult populations: a systematic review of clinical trials.Frontiers in sports and active living · 2025Pooled it
- The Impact of Additional Exercise Interventions on Physical Performance and Muscle Strength of Frail Patients After Open-Heart Surgery: A Randomized Trial.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2025Trial
- Digital Health Use and Interest in Virtual Cardiac Rehabilitation Among Cardiac Inpatients: Cross-Sectional Study.JMIR cardio · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundIncreasing numbers of elderly patients experience prolonged decreased functional capacity and impaired quality of life after seemingly successful cardiac surgery. After discharge from hospital, these patients experience a substantial gap in care until centre-based cardiac rehabilitation commences. They may benefit from immediate coaching by means of mobile health technology to overcome psychological and physiological barriers to physical activity. The aim of this study was to explore the usability, acceptability, and relevance of a mobile health application designed to support remote exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation of elderly patients early after cardiac surgery from the perspective of patients, their relatives, and physiotherapists.
methodsWe adapted a home-based mobile health application for use by elderly patients early after cardiac surgery. Semi-structured dyadic interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of patients (n = 9), their spouses (n = 5), and physiotherapists (n = 2) following two weeks of the intervention. The transcribed interviews were analysed thematically.
resultsThree themes were identified: 1) creating an individual fit by tailoring the intervention; 2) prioritizing communication and collaboration; and 3) interacting with the mobile health application. Overall, the findings indicate that the mobile health intervention has the potential to promote engagement, responsibility, and motivation among elderly patients to exercise early after surgery. However, the intervention can also be a burden on patients and their relatives when roles and responsibilities are unclear.
conclusionThe mobile health intervention showed potential to bridge the intervention gap after cardiac surgery, as well as in fostering engagement, responsibility, and motivation for physical activity among elderly individuals. Nevertheless, our findings emphasize the necessity of tailoring the intervention to accommodate individual vulnerabilities and capabilities. The intervention may be improved by addressing a number of organizational and communicational issues. Adaptions should be made according to the barriers and facilitators identified in this study prior to testing the effectiveness of the intervention on a larger scale. Future research should focus on the implementation of a hybrid design that supplements or complements face-to-face and centre-based cardiac rehabilitation.
trial registrationDanish Data Protection Agency, Central Denmark Region (1-16-02-193-22, 11 August 2022).
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