Evaluation of a Web-based Intervention to Promote Physical Activity in Patients With Heart Disease.
Evaluation of a Web-based Intervention to Promote Physical Activity in Patients With Heart Disease.
A randomized control trial (RCT) is planned to evaluate a web-based intervention (CardioFit)
 against usual care in increasing physical activity levels in patients with Coronary Artery
 Disease (CAD). We hypothesize that compared to usual care, participants in CardioFit will; a)
 have increased physical activity levels, b) will have a higher health-related quality of life
 at measurement dates and, c) will have greater improvements in psychosocial predictors.
Most existing cardiac rehabilitation programs have little ability to expand participation
 using traditional delivery models that emphasize supervised, facility-based programs.
 Futhermore, facility based programs to promote physical activity behavior in patients with
 coronary artery disease (CAD) are limited in their impact because most patients are unwilling
 to travel more than 30-40 minutes to participate in a program. CardioFit is an off-site, 26
 week web-based physical activity coaching service for people with heart disease. Within the
 CardioFit program, patients will be assigned to an on-line "coach" and receive customized
 exercise programs based on their medical history, personal goals and preferences. A
 randomized control trial (RCT) is planned to evaluate the effectiveness of the web-based
 intervention at increasing physical activity levels against usual care in patients with CAD.

 This study is in the third phase of a three-phase research program to examine interventions
 to promote physical activity for the secondary prevention of Cardiovascular disease.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Age 20 to 80 years

 -  English Proficiency

 -  Internet Access (home or work)

 -  Documented CAD (most recent cardiac diagnosis); documented Myocardial Infarction (MI),
 successful PCI procedure

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Patient intends to enroll in structured cardiac rehabilitation

 -  Hospitalization for Coronary Artery Bypass (CABG)

 -  Hospitalization for diagnostic procedure not associated with previously documented MI

 -  Patient coming back to hospital for planned staged PCI within 6 months

 -  Cardiac transplantation

 -  Presence of, or hospitalization for defibrillator implant

 -  Hospitalization for pacemaker implantation

 -  Unresolved unstable angina &/or hospitalization for angina (without MI or PCI)

 -  Uncontrolled arrhythmias causing symptoms or hemodynamic compromise

 -  Neuromuscular, musculoskeletal or rheumatoid disorders that are exacerbated by
 exercise

 -  Other uncontrolled metabolic conditions (e.g. diabetes)

 -  Chronic infectious diseases such as mononucleosis, hepatitis, AIDS

 -  Acute systematic illness or fever

 -  Uncontrolled tachycardia (<120 bpm)

 -  Uncompensated congestive heart failure (&/or NYHA Class III, or IV)

 -  3rd degree AV block without pacemaker

 -  Active pericarditis or myocarditis

 -  Recent embolism

 -  Suspected or known AAA aneurysm > 4cm

 -  Uncontrolled hypertension (SBP > 200; DBP > 110)

 -  Pregnancy