Evaluation of counselling materials for hybrid cardiac rehabilitation in a low-resource setting: Perceptions of patients and providers

Abstract

Objective: This study evaluated the usefulness of a booklet as support material for counseling focused on self-efficacy and therapist interaction in the course of counseling in a hybrid CR program (i.e., supervised and unsupervised sessions) developed for low-resource settings.

Methods: Counseling material was developed by a multidisciplinary team, with patient input. Using multi-methods, first input from patients from six centers in Chile was sought through a telephone survey (cross-sectional). Second, input from physiotherapists delivering the intervention at all centres was solicited qualitatively through a focus group on Zoom. Content analysis was performed using a deductive-thematic approach.

Results: Seventy-one patients were included. All (100 %) participants responded that the materials were easy to understand, contained suggestions applicable to daily life, captured their attention and was useful for future questions. The booklet overall was rated 6.7 ± 0.6/7 %, and 98.2 % were satisfied with the counselling. Overall themes from the six deliverers related to the CR intervention (e.g., well manualized protocols for counselling), the deliverer (e.g., expertise to deliver) and patients (e.g., found information useful).

Conclusion: The usefulness of the counseling together with the supporting booklet was established by patients and delivering professionals.

Practice implications: Thus, with some final refinement, this resource can be disseminated for use by other Spanish CR programs.

Keywords: Behavior change; Cardiac rehabilitation; Counseling; Patient education; Self-efficacy; User-centred design.