TY - JOUR

T1 - Increased motivation for and use of digital services in heart failure patients participating in a telerehabilitation program

T2 - a randomized controlled trial

AU - Spindler, Helle

AU - Dyrvig, Anne Kirstine

AU - Schacksen, Cathrine Skov

AU - Anthonimuthu, Danny

AU - Frost, Lars

AU - Gade, Josefine Dam

AU - Kronborg, Sissel Højsted

AU - Mahboubi, Kiomars

AU - Refsgaard, Jens

AU - Dinesen, Birthe

AU - Hollingdal, Malene

AU - Kayser, Lars

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © mHealth. All rights reserved.

PY - 2022

Y1 - 2022

N2 - Background: eHealth literacy (eHL) may be an important factor in the adoption of telerehabilitation. However, little is known about how telerehabilitation affects patients’ eHL. The current study evaluated changes over time in eHL for heart failure (HF) patients in a telerehabilitation program (the Future Patient Program) compared to a traditional rehabilitation program. Methods: As part of a randomized controlled trial comparing telerehabilitation with traditional rehabilitation, 137 HF patients completed the eHealth Literacy Questionnaire (eHLQ) at 6 and 12 months of their respective rehabilitation programs. Results: At 6 months, the telerehabilitation group indicated higher levels of ‘using technology to process health information’ and ‘motivated to engage with digital services’. This difference was consistent over time, and we found no other differences between groups or over time with regard to eHL. Conclusions: Providing a digital toolbox for processing health information to HF patients may aid in increasing their eHL, motivation, and ability to engage with digital services in HF patients. Especially, if the technology is designed to support patient needs in terms of the educational content of the program. Preferably technology should be provided early on in the rehabilitation process to ensure optimal outcome.

AB - Background: eHealth literacy (eHL) may be an important factor in the adoption of telerehabilitation. However, little is known about how telerehabilitation affects patients’ eHL. The current study evaluated changes over time in eHL for heart failure (HF) patients in a telerehabilitation program (the Future Patient Program) compared to a traditional rehabilitation program. Methods: As part of a randomized controlled trial comparing telerehabilitation with traditional rehabilitation, 137 HF patients completed the eHealth Literacy Questionnaire (eHLQ) at 6 and 12 months of their respective rehabilitation programs. Results: At 6 months, the telerehabilitation group indicated higher levels of ‘using technology to process health information’ and ‘motivated to engage with digital services’. This difference was consistent over time, and we found no other differences between groups or over time with regard to eHL. Conclusions: Providing a digital toolbox for processing health information to HF patients may aid in increasing their eHL, motivation, and ability to engage with digital services in HF patients. Especially, if the technology is designed to support patient needs in terms of the educational content of the program. Preferably technology should be provided early on in the rehabilitation process to ensure optimal outcome.

KW - e-health literacy

KW - Heart failure (HF)

KW - patient education

KW - telerehabilitation

U2 - 10.21037/mhealth-21-56

DO - 10.21037/mhealth-21-56

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 35928510

AN - SCOPUS:85136545886

VL - 8

JO - mHealth

JF - mHealth

SN - 2306-9740

M1 - 25

ER -