Patients' Experience of Home and Hospital Based Cardiac Rehabilitation: A Focus Group Study

Quality within all areas of healthcare should be systemically monitored and ensured. However, the definition of quality is complex and diverse. In the ambulance service (AS), quality has traditionally been defined as response time, but this measurement eliminates the possibility of addressing other characteristics of quality, such as the care provided. This study aimed to explore what constitutes quality in the context of the ambulance service as experienced by ambulance clinicians, physicians, and managers. A focus group study was conducted with 18 participants. The three focus groups were analyzed with the focus group method developed by Kreuger and Casey. The participants highlighted patient involvement, information and care, as well as adherence to policies, regulations, and their own standards as representing quality in the AS. This study demonstrates that quality is in the eye of the beholder. As quality seems to be viewed similarly by patients and ambulance clinicians, physicians, and managers, stakeholders should aim for a paradigm shift where patients’ experience of the care is just as important as various time measures.

Download Full-text

Cardiac rehabilitation and stroke teams attitudes to people with stroke taking part in cardiac rehabilitation: focus group study

Physiotherapy ◽

10.1016/j.physio.2020.03.130 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 107 ◽

pp. e93

Author(s):

N. Clague-Baker ◽

T. Robinson ◽

S. Drewry ◽

A. Hagenberg ◽

S. Singh

Keyword(s):

Focus Group ◽

Cardiac Rehabilitation ◽

Focus Group Study

Download Full-text

Cardiac Rehabilitation During COVID-19 in Victoria, Australia: Telehealth is Here to Stay but it is Not Without Challenges. A Focus Group Study

Heart Lung and Circulation ◽

10.1016/j.hlc.2021.06.406 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 30 ◽

pp. S277

Author(s):

S. Cartledge ◽

J. Rawstorn ◽

P. Ryan ◽

M. Tran ◽

E. Howden ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Focus Group ◽

Cardiac Rehabilitation ◽

Focus Group Study

Download Full-text

Throwing cardiac rehabilitation into the 21st Century: a focus group study exploring the impact of COVID-19 on cardiac rehabilitation delivery in Victoria, Australia

European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing ◽

10.1093/eurjcn/zvab060.069 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 20 (Supplement_1) ◽

Author(s):

S Cartledge ◽

J Rawstorn ◽

M Tran ◽

P Ryan ◽

E Howden ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Focus Group ◽

Cardiac Rehabilitation ◽

Technology Use ◽

Exercise Physiology ◽

Scale Up ◽

Models Of Care ◽

Focus Group Study ◽

Face To Face ◽

Barriers And Enablers ◽

The Impact

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) education and exercise are predominantly delivered in group face-to-face settings. This delivery model was challenged during the COVID-19 pandemic due to government enforced lockdowns which restricted the delivery of these models of care. The Australian state of Victoria experienced the longest and most severe local restrictions and was in lockdown for approximately 26 weeks of 2020. Purpose We aimed to explore the experience, barriers and enablers of delivering CR during a pandemic, and identify strategies for future COVID-safe programs among cardiac rehabilitation clinicians. Methods Victorian members of the Australian Cardiovascular Health and Rehabilitation Association (ACRA) were invited to attend an exploratory qualitative online focus group in November 2020. An inductive thematic analysis was undertaken before deductively applying the Non-adoption, Abandonment, Scale-up, Spread and Sustainability (NASSS) framework to identify barriers and enablers for technology adoption in CR. Results 30 members participated in a 106 minute focus group. 17 members who provided demographics represented multiple disciplines (nursing n = 13, exercise physiology n = 3, physiotherapy n = 1) and geographical settings (metropolitan n = 10, regional n = 4, rural n = 3). Four main themes were identified: Consequences of sudden service delivery change; Technology use – challenges and benefits; Capacity (program and staff); and The way forward. The deductive NASSS analysis demonstrated the main challenges of continuing remotely delivered CR lie with all adopters (staff, patients, carers) and with organisations. Future CR strategies included the importance of resuming face-to-face programs but important barriers including finding capacity, particularly staffing, to run concurrent telehealth programs remain to be addressed. Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic forced and expedited significant changes to CR delivery models. While clinicians agreed that delivery of CR via telehealth will continue, it is now timely to review remote models of care and plan how they will integrate alongside traditional face-to-face programs.

Download Full-text