16 million to eCardiacRehab

A Flexible, Digital Program

eCardiacRehab is a digital program that heart patients can follow during their rehabilitation. According to Professor and Project Leader, Tone M. Norekvål at the Heart Department, Haukeland University Hospital, the biggest difference from traditional heart rehabilitation is that patients can participate whenever and wherever it suits them.

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Professor Tone M. Norekvål. Photo: Anne Sidsel Herdlevær

• The program has many of the same features as hospital-based heart rehabilitation, but patients can do it anytime, in the comfort of their own home, she says.

The program will include short videos, animations, and explanatory text. Patients will learn what is important after discharge from the hospital. For example, a video might demonstrate specific exercises that the patient needs to perform as part of their treatment. In addition, the program will offer real-time group training sessions with a physical therapist. It will also include guidance on diet, medication use, and quitting nicotine. Patients set their own goals and log their activity—such as daily exercise—directly into the program.

Promoting Community and Security

At 36, Alf Johannes Agcaoili Borge (39) suffered a heart attack and personally benefited greatly from traditional heart rehabilitation. Now, he is helping test the digital version:

• I think heart rehabilitation should be mandatory after heart disease. I hope that a digital offer like eCardiacRehab will help more people participate, he says.
• This will provide an opportunity for those who live in areas where rehabilitation programs don’t exist, as well as those who, for various reasons, can’t travel to the programs that do exist.

He adds that the benefits of taking part are huge:

• You have to live with heart disease for the rest of your life. Heart rehabilitation provides a sense of community, and it helps you feel more secure when it comes to your diet, medications, and exercise, Borge explains.

In testing this digital format, Borge offers insight into what features are most important and how to encourage patients to use the program.

Reaching Far More Patients

The digital program is expected to be offered at all hospitals providing PCI (percutaneous coronary intervention) for heart attack patients. In Norway, approximately 12,000 patients undergo PCI annually. Despite advancements in treatment, these patients still live with chronic heart disease, impacting individuals, healthcare systems, and society. Currently, over 80% of patients nationwide do not participate in traditional heart rehabilitation programs.

• This is due to high patient volumes, limited rehabilitation programs, and long travel distances for many. A digital program allows us to offer rehabilitation to significantly more patients, says Professor Norekvål.

Norekvål emphasizes that eCardiacRehab is meant to supplement existing rehabilitation programs:

• As with all cardiac rehab, the goal is to give patients the skills and confidence to manage their own health and make any lifestyle changes needed to prevent further heart problems, Norekvål emphasizes.

Tailoring the Program to Different Needs

Before receiving this new grant from the Research Council, the eCardiacRehab project had already been supported by innovation and research funding from Helse Vest. The additional funds enables the project to expand:

• We know some groups have more difficulty using e-health technology—older adults and people from different cultural backgrounds, for instance, says project leader Norekvål.
• Women are also less frequently referred and participate less often in cardiac rehab, and people dealing with multiple health conditions are less likely to join. With this new funding, we can explore how these factors affect the program. Do we need to change or adapt it so that more people can benefit? Perhaps we need to tailor the program further for specific groups.

Access via Physician Referral

Once fully developed, eCardiacRehab will be available to patients referred by their doctor. Accessible via secure BankID login, the program can be used on PCs, smartphones, or tablets. The solution facilitates digital communication between patients and healthcare providers while ensuring data privacy and security.