Psycho-Social Support for Patients with Cardiovascular Disease (CVD): Barriers to a Cardiac Rehabilitation Program (CRP)

Cardiac Rehabilitation Programs (CRP) are effective behavioural interventions that reduce morbidity and mortality in patients with cardiovascular disease. Despite the myriad of benefits, participation remains sub-optimal with drop-out rates as high as 60%. Patients who discontinue CRP are under-treated and consequently, are at greater risk for further cardiac events. It is imperative to find alternative strategies to support to this high-risk population. The objectives of the present thesis were three fold: i) to identify baseline characteristics of participants who previously dropped-out of a CRP (chapter 2); ii) to assess self-efficacy among patients who complete a CRP versus those who drop-out (chapter 3); iii) to test the feasibility of an Internet-mediated VC intervention to provide ongoing psycho-social support among patients who previously dropped-out of a CRP (chapter 4).