title: Improving uptake and adherence in cardiac rehabilitation: literature review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This paper presents a comprehensive systematic review of literature carried out to identify studies of interventions to improve uptake, adherence and professional compliance in cardiac rehabilitation.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Guidelines recommend that cardiac rehabilitation should be offered to patients following acute myocardial infarction and revascularization. Uptake and adherence are low, particularly in women, older people, and socially deprived and ethnic minority patients. Although patient, service and professional barriers to rehabilitation uptake have been described, no attempt has been made to evaluate systematically interventions aimed at improving uptake and adherence in cardiac rehabilitation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A comprehensive search strategy identified studies of cardiac rehabilitation, using the terms uptake, adherence and compliance. The search included grey literature, hand searching of specialist journals and conference abstracts. No language restriction was applied. Studies were summarized in three qualitative overviews and assessed by quality of evidence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From 3261 publications identified, 957 were acquired on the basis of title or abstract. Few studies were of sufficient quality to make specific recommendations. Six, 12 and five studies, respectively, provided adequate information on methods to improve uptake, adherence or professional compliance. A minority of studies were randomized controlled trials. Studies of motivational and self-management strategies and use of lay volunteers showed some promise in improving rehabilitation uptake or lifestyle change. Nurse-led coordination of care after hospital discharge may have a role in improving rehabilitation uptake. Limited information was provided on resource implications, and there was a lack of studies with under-represented groups. The literature contained numerous suggested interventions which merit evaluation in appropriately designed studies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Little research has been reported evaluating interventions to improve uptake, adherence and professional compliance in cardiac rehabilitation. A wide range of possible interventions was identified and further evaluations of methods are indicated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK. andy.beswick@bristol.ac.uk
authors.forename: Andrew D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Beswick
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rees
authors.forename: Robert R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: West
authors.forename: Fiona C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Burke
authors.forename: Ingolf
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Griebsch
authors.forename: Rod S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Jackie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Victory
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Shah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ebrahim
mesh_terms: D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011361:Professional Competence; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D019145:Rehabilitation Nursing / Q000379:methods