Web-based nursing intervention to promote physical activity among older adults with coronary heart disease: Protocol for a mixed method pilot study (Preprint)
Authors: Lavoie Audrey , Dubé Véronique 
Published: October 2024

BACKGROUND

Given the high prevalence of coronary heart disease among older adults and the aging of populations, there is a need for secondary prevention interventions to help older adults become more physically active. Web-based interventions could be considered for this purpose, knowing that Internet use is growing rapidly among older adults. In addition, since older adults would appreciate developing a trusting relationship with a nurse, web-based interventions should include this support, which is not widely observed in the literature.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study is to evaluate a web-based nursing intervention aimed at promoting physical activity in people aged 65 years and older with coronary heart disease.

METHODS

A web-based nursing intervention was developed according to the Intervention Mapping framework, in collaboration with a team of healthcare professionals (n=5) and based on the needs of older adults (n=10). The 7-session weekly intervention aims to support older adults living with coronary artery disease in resuming, maintaining or increasing their level of physical activity after coronary bypass surgery or percutaneous coronary intervention. The intervention offers educational content on coronary heart disease and physical activity, suggestions for physical activity, reflective activities, case histories of older adults who have experienced different journeys, an electronic physical activity diary to track progress, and support from a nurse through feedback to increase knowledge, motivation, and sense of self-efficacy. The preliminary effects and impacts of the intervention will be assessed through a mixed method pilot study with a sequential explanatory design. First, a single group pre-post test will be used to assess the intervention’s preliminary effects on physical activity (electronic journal), quality of life (SF-36v2 questionnaire), knowledge (quiz), motivation and self-efficacy (visual analog scale) of 30 older adults living with coronary heart disease, as well as the feasibility of the intervention. Second, a descriptive qualitative design will employ semi-structured interviews to assess the intervention’s impacts as perceived by 8 to 12 older adults and its acceptability. Quantitative data on the effects of the intervention will be integrated with the collection and analysis of qualitative data to assess the impact perceived by older adults, using matrices. Non-parametric statistics and a thematic analysis will be produced. A joint display will be used to integrate mixed data.

RESULTS

The results of this study will provide insight into the preliminary evaluation of a web-based nursing intervention to support older adults living with coronary heart disease as they increase their physical activity levels. The recruitment commenced in June 2024, and data collection should be completed by March 2025.

CONCLUSIONS

With the potential to promote older adults' health, this study could guide the development of new intervention to meet the needs of the aging population.

CLINICALTRIAL

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT16197347.