Using a mHealth Intervention to Promote Physical Activity in Phase III Cardiac Rehabilitation Clients

Overview

In this study, we will implement a pilot project of using activity tracker (i.e., Fitbit) with phase III CR clients. The study will record the clients' daily steps and sleep patterns for 8 consecutive weeks in natural settings. Two specific aims are identified for this

project

1. Develop an intervention protocol using mHealth to promote Phase III CR clients' self-monitoring of PA.
2. Examine the efficacy of the intervention on clients' PA, sleep patterns, functional capacity and QoL.

Description

In this study, we will implement a pilot project of using activity tracker (i.e., Fitbit) with phase III CR clients. The study will record the clients' daily steps and sleep patterns for 8 consecutive weeks in natural settings. Two specific aims are identified for this

project

1. Develop an intervention protocol using mHealth to promote Phase III CR clients' self-monitoring of PA.
2. Examine the efficacy of the intervention on clients' PA, sleep patterns, functional capacity and QoL.

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Clients who met the following criteria will be recruited using convenience sampling: (i) currently receiving Phase III CR at Hope Clinic (ii) are 18 years of age or older (iii) can read and communicate in English (iv) able to follow instructions to walk (v) provided signed informed consent (vi) willing to wear Fitbit throughout the study (vii) owns a smartphone with text messaging capability (participants need to decide ahead of time if they have a phone plan that is compatible with taking additional text messages without undue financial burden for themselves) (viii) willing to receive text messages and phone calls from the research team.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Clients will be excluded if they: (i) are pregnant or lactating (ii) have scheduled surgery or traveling within the next 8 weeks (iii) currently participating in other health promotion program (iv) sufficiently or overly active, as determined by a physical activity monitor worn for one week, indicating averaging ≥ 7,500 steps per day ("somewhat overly active").