Target Audience and Preferences Related to an Australian Coronary Heart Disease Specific Mobile App: A Mixed Methods Study.

BACKGROUND: Widespread availability of mobile technologies offers the opportunity to support secondary prevention of coronary heart disease (CHD) via mobile apps, however, the target audience and their app preferences are unknown. This study aims to identify the potential audience for an Australian CHD specific app and their recommendations and preferences. METHODS: A two-phase mixed methods study: Phase 1: CHD patients (n=282) were surveyed on mobile app engagement. Phase 2: Four focus groups with regular app users (n=12) identified preferences and recommendations generated after using a CHD-specific publicly available app (MyHeartMyLife) for 2 weeks. Data were thematically analysed. RESULTS: Survey participants were aged ≥56 years (238/282, 84.4%) and male (204/282, 72.3%). More than one third (108/282, 38.3%) were regular app users, of whom 83/108, (76.9%) used health apps. Regular app users were more likely to be <56 years (versus ≥70 years; OR 4.70, 95% CI 1.92, 11.51), employed (OR 3.07, 95% CI 1.63, 5.77) and had completed high school education (OR 2.37, 95% CI 1.30, 4.34). Focus group participants using the CHD-specific app were aged 41-79 years (mean 62.2 SD 5.3 years) and 10/12 were male. Coronary heart disease specific app preferences generated included: immediate access to relevant and practical health information and records; behaviour change motivation; more experienced app users located and used app features readily and provided support for less experienced users. In addition, ensuring ease of reading and interpreting data, adding physical activity tracking, the ability to integrate and synchronise with other apps and devices, and capacity to store additional personal medical records were also recommended. CONCLUSIONS: The target audience for CHD-specific apps is aged <56 years, employed, has completed high school and is an experienced app user. User preferences and recommendations identified features present in publicly available apps, but many features need development.

Mobile Technology Use Across Age Groups in Patients Eligible for Cardiac Rehabilitation: Survey Study.

BACKGROUND: Emerging evidence indicates mobile technology-based strategies may improve access to secondary prevention and reduce risk factors in cardiac patients. However, little is known about cardiac patients' use of mobile technology, particularly for health reasons and whether the usage varies across patient demographics. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to describe cardiac patients' use of mobile technology and to determine variations between age groups after adjusting for education, employment, and confidence with using mobile technology. METHODS: Cardiac patients eligible for attending cardiac rehabilitation were recruited from 9 hospital and community sites across metropolitan and rural settings in New South Wales, Australia. Participants completed a survey on the use of mobile technology devices, features used, confidence with using mobile technology, willingness and interest in learning, and health-related use. RESULTS: The sample (N=282) had a mean age of 66.5 (standard deviation [SD] 10.6) years, 71.9% (203/282) were male, and 79.0% (223/282) lived in a metropolitan area. The most common diagnoses were percutaneous coronary intervention (33.3%, 94/282) and myocardial infarction (22.7%, 64/282). The majority (91.1%, 257/282) used at least one type of technology device, 70.9% (200/282) used mobile technology (mobile phone/tablet), and 31.9% (90/282) used all types. Technology was used by 54.6% (154/282) for health purposes, most often to access information on health conditions (41.4%, 117/282) and medications (34.8%, 98/282). Age had an important independent association with the use of mobile technology after adjusting for education, employment, and confidence. The youngest group (<56 years) was over 4 times more likely to use any mobile technology than the oldest (>69 years) age group (odds ratio [OR] 4.45, 95% CI 1.46-13.55), 5 times more likely to use mobile apps (OR 5.00, 95% CI 2.01-12.44), and 3 times more likely to use technology for health-related reasons (OR 3.31, 95% CI 1.34-8.18). Compared with the older group, the middle age group (56-69 years) was more than twice as likely to use any mobile technology (OR 2.42, 95% CI 1.27-4.59) and mobile technology for health-related purposes (OR 1.92, 95% CI 1.04-3.53). Participants who had completed high school were twice as likely to use mobile technology (OR 2.62, 95% CI 1.45-4.70), mobile apps (OR 2.05, 95% CI 1.09-3.84), and mobile technology for health-related reasons (OR 5.09, 95% CI 2.89-8.95) than those who had not completed high school. Associations were also present between participants living in metropolitan areas and mobile technology use (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.07-4.24) and employment and mobile app use (OR 2.72, 95% CI 1.44-5.140). CONCLUSIONS: Mobile technology offers an important opportunity to improve access to secondary prevention for cardiac patients, particularly when modified to suit subgroups. High levels of mobile technology use and health motivation need to be harnessed for secondary prevention.

Who gets stroke prevention? Stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation patients in the inpatient setting.

BACKGROUND: Current guidelines strongly recommend antithrombotic therapy, particularly warfarin, for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients at high risk of stroke. Despite this, use of these medications is far from optimal. The aim of this study was to describe the use of stroke prevention medication in inpatients and identify factors associated with prescription in one local health district in Sydney, Australia. METHODS: A prospective audit of medical records for patients admitted with an AF diagnosis to five hospitals in the health district and excluding cardiac surgery patients was undertaken. Patients were classified as high or low for stroke risk as well as for risk of bleeding and predictors were identified by logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 204 patients were enrolled from July 2012 to April 2013, with a mean age of 75 years (SD 13) and half (50%) were male. Valve disease was present in 17% and 15% received a procedure for their AF (cardioversion/ablation/pulmonary vein isolation). Patients were least likely to be prescribed warfarin/novel oral anticoagulant (NOAC) if they were non-valvular and did not undergo cardioversion/ablation (p=.03), and least likely to be prescribed aspirin if they had no AF procedure (p=.01). In non-valvular patients who did not have cardioversion/ablation the odds of being prescribed warfarin/NOAC were increased by being classified at high risk of stroke (OR 3.1, 95% CI 1.0 -9.5) and decreased if there was a prescription for aspirin (OR .3. 95% CI .1 -.6). CONCLUSIONS: Overall use of stroke prevention medication indicates that gaps remain in translation of evidence into clinical practice.

Profile of atrial fibrillation inpatients: Cardiovascular risk factors and cardiac rehabilitation programme delivery and referral patterns.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is increasingly common; however, the cardiovascular risk factor profile and the patterns of delivery and referral to cardiac rehabilitation (CR) in this population are poorly described. We conducted an audit of medical records (n = 145) of patients admitted with AF in one local health district in Sydney, Australia. Patients were aged a mean 72 years, and 51% were male. Lack of risk factor documentation was common. Despite this, 65% had two or more modifiable cardiovascular risk factors, including hypertension (63%) and hypercholesterolaemia (52%). Referral to Phase II CR occurred for 25% and was decreased with permanent AF diagnosis and increased with more risk factors. AF patients admitted to hospital have multiple cardiovascular risk factors but limited risk factor screening and/or referral to outpatient CR programmes.

Evaluation of a brief educational intervention to improve knowledge of sublingual nitroglycerin in cardiac rehabilitation patients.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a brief educational intervention delivered in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) on patients' knowledge of sublingual nitroglycerin (SLN). METHODS: Patients (n=86) commencing CR were provided with a brief educational intervention tailored to deficits identified in an assessment of SLN knowledge using the Sublingual Nitroglycerin Questionnaire, with reassessment at the end of program completion (6-8 weeks). RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 64.95 years (standard deviation (SD) 10.87); 74% were male, 78% were married and 60% had not completed high school. Most (70%) had no prior coronary heart disease (CHD) history and 80% had been referred to CR following percutaneous coronary intervention. SLN knowledge scores increased from baseline to outcome. Patients were significantly more likely to know: the name of their SLN medication (11% increase, p=0.001), the recommended timing between doses (29% increase, p=0.02), the maximum number of doses (27% increase, p=0.005), to have SLN on their person at the time of the interview (25% increase, p<0.001) and to know the interaction between SLN and sildenafil (36% increase, p=0.001). The independent predictors of SLN knowledge included having better knowledge at baseline (ß=0.28) and having consulted a general practitioner post discharge and before commencing CR (ß=1.48). CONCLUSION: A brief standardised knowledge intervention, individually tailored to identified deficits in a knowledge screen and delivered during CR, shows promise for improving patient knowledge of SLNs. The role of general practitioners in delivering medication education needs further investigation.

A pre-test post-test study of a brief educational intervention demonstrates improved knowledge of potential acute myocardial infarction symptoms and appropriate responses in cardiac rehabilitation patients.

BACKGROUND: Patient delay in recognizing and responding to potential acute myocardial infarction (AMI) symptoms is an international issue. Cardiac rehabilitation provides an ideal opportunity to deliver an intervention. AIMS: This study examines an individual educational intervention on knowledge of heart attack warning signs and specific chest pain action plans for people with coronary heart disease. METHODS: Cardiac rehabilitation participants at five hospitals were assessed at program entry and tailored education was provided using the Heart Foundation of Australia's Heart Attack Warning Signs campaign educational tool. Participants (n=137) were reassessed at program conclusion (six to eight weeks). RESULTS: Study participants had a mean age of 64.48 years (SD 12.22), were predominantly male (78%) and most commonly presented with a current referral diagnosis of a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (80%) and/or AMI (60%). There were statistically significant improvements in the reporting of 11 of the 14 warning signs of heart attack, with patients reporting 2.56 more warning signs on average at outcome (p<.0001). Patients reported more heart attack warning signs if they had completed high school education (ß=1.14) or had better knowledge before the intervention (ß=.57). There were statistically significant improvements in reporting of all appropriate actions in response to potential AMI symptoms, with patients reporting an average of 1.3 more actions at outcome (p<.001), with no change in the median time they would tolerate symptoms (p=.16). CONCLUSIONS: A brief education session using a single standardised tool and adapted to a patient assessment is effective in improving knowledge of potential AMI symptoms and appropriate responses in cardiac rehabilitation up to two months following.

Collaboration: a solution to the challenge of conducting nursing research in cardiac rehabilitation.

Clinical nurse leaders such as clinical nurse consultants are required to conduct research and incorporate outcomes of this research into their every day practice. However, undertaking research presents issues for cardiac rehabilitation clinical nurse consultants because they may have competing demands, difficulty with finding replacements and may be relatively isolated from other researchers. The solution to this situation is the formation of a collaborative research team with other cardiac rehabilitation clinical nurse consultants, with the inclusion of an experienced university academic as a mentor for the cardiac rehabilitation clinical nurse consultants working in an Area Health Service encompassing both rural and metropolitan hospitals in New South Wales, Australia. The related research project aimed to evaluate and improve the clients' knowledge and practices related to the use of sublingual glyceryl trinitrate. The team's experiences and suggestions for clinical nurse Leaders are presented in this paper. Essential team characteristics include having shared motivation, good communication practices, flexibility and tolerance, an effective team size, achieving success, willingness to accept challenges and an experienced mentor. The benefits of developing a collaborative team for research led by clinical nurse consultants in cardiac rehabilitation by far outweigh the time and effort involved in the process.

Sublingual nitroglycerin practices in patients with coronary artery disease in Australia.

BACKGROUND AND RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: Sublingual nitroglycerin (SLNTG) medications are a recommended treatment for people with coronary artery disease (CAD); however, prescription and knowledge may be suboptimal. This study set out to determine how often SLNTG is prescribed and the knowledge and factors associated in patients with CAD. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Patients (n = 142) were recruited from cardiac rehabilitation and surveyed regarding SLNTG prescription and key knowledge areas related to SLNTG in those prescribed (n = 89). Multiple regression analysis was used to determine independent predictors of knowledge. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Despite having CAD, 37% were not prescribed SLNTG, and of those prescribed, only 43% received related instruction. Knowledge of SLNTG was low at a mean 7.11 (SD, 2.05) points of a possible 14. Most participants (96%) knew to use SLNTG to treat chest pain/discomfort, and no participant described inappropriate symptoms for treatment. Although most patients (80%) knew to have the SLNTG available at all times, only 46% did so in reality. One in 5 participants reported that they would not call an ambulance if chest pain was unrelieved by SLNTG. Participants had more SLNTG knowledge if they were married, were male, and had been instructed about SLNTG and had less knowledge if their hospital discharge diagnosis included angina. The reporting of calling an ambulance for unrelieved symptoms was increased by having more knowledge of SLNTG, but decreased if participants had prior use of SLNTG, were married, or had more comorbidities. Consideration of prescription for SLNTG and related instruction, particularly for their chest-pain action plan, needs to be provided more systematically for patients with CAD.