There is suggestive but inconclusive evidence from the trials of a benefit in the use of brief interventions for risk factor modification in patients with coronary heart disease .
This review , however , supports the concept that brief interventions for patients with coronary heart disease can have beneficial effects on risk factor modification and consequently on progression of coronary heart disease .
Further trials using larger sample sizes need to be undertaken to demonstrate the benefits of brief structured intervention targeted at the modification of single or multiple risk factors
BACKGROUND The physical and psychosocial benefits of participation in cardiac rehabilitation following a coronary event have well been established .
Despite these benefits there is strong evidence that participation in traditional cardiac rehabilitation programs remains low .
Various models of cardiac rehabilitation have been implemented including the use of brief structured interventions to enable modification of coronary risk factors .
OBJECTIVES The objective of this review was to determine the effect of brief structured interventions on risk factor modification in patients with coronary heart disease .
Clinical trial of an Internet-based case management system for secondary prevention of heart disease.
PURPOSE Despite demonstrated benefits of cardiac rehabilitation and risk factor reduction , only 11 % to 38 % of eligible patients with cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) participate in cardiac rehabilitation programs .  Women and older adults are particularly less likely to participate in cardiac rehabilitation . In an effort to broaden access to cardiac rehabilitation , the authors developed an alternative Internet-based program that allows nurse case managers to provide risk factor management training , risk factor education , and monitoring services to patients with CVD . METHODS The evaluation consisted of a r and omized , clinical trial involving 104 patients with CVD , 53 of whom used the program as a special intervention ( SI ) for 6 months and 51 of whom received usual care ( UC ) .  RESULTS The results indicate that fewer cardiovascular events occurred among the SI subjects ( 15.7 % ) than among the UC subjects ( 4.1 % ) ( P = .053 ) , result ing in a gross cost savings of $ 1418 US dollars per patient . With a projected program cost of $ 453 USD per patient , the return on investment is estimated at 213 % . More weight loss occurred in the SI group ( -3.68 pounds ) than in the UC group ( + .47 pounds ) ( P = .003 ) . The differences between the two groups in terms of blood pressure , lipid levels , depression scores , minutes of exercise , and dietary habits were not statistically significant . CONCLUSION An Internet-based case management system could be used as a cost-effective intervention for patients with CVD , either independently or in conjunction with traditional cardiac rehabilitation
There is suggestive but inconclusive evidence from the trials of a benefit in the use of brief interventions for risk factor modification in patients with coronary heart disease .
This review , however , supports the concept that brief interventions for patients with coronary heart disease can have beneficial effects on risk factor modification and consequently on progression of coronary heart disease .
Further trials using larger sample sizes need to be undertaken to demonstrate the benefits of brief structured intervention targeted at the modification of single or multiple risk factors
BACKGROUND The physical and psychosocial benefits of participation in cardiac rehabilitation following a coronary event have well been established .
Despite these benefits there is strong evidence that participation in traditional cardiac rehabilitation programs remains low .
Various models of cardiac rehabilitation have been implemented including the use of brief structured interventions to enable modification of coronary risk factors .
OBJECTIVES The objective of this review was to determine the effect of brief structured interventions on risk factor modification in patients with coronary heart disease .