title: Improving coronary heart disease self-management using mobile technologies (Text4Heart): a randomised controlled trial protocol.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is a secondary prevention program that offers education and support to assist patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) make lifestyle changes. Despite the benefits of CR, attendance at centre-based sessions remains low. Mobile technology (mHealth) has potential to reach more patients by delivering CR directly to mobile phones, thus providing an alternative to centre-based CR. The aim of this trial is to evaluate if a mHealth comprehensive CR program can improve adherence to healthy lifestyle behaviours (for example, physically active, fruit and vegetable intake, not smoking, low alcohol consumption) over and above usual CR services in New Zealand adults diagnosed with CHD.
  
  
  METHODS
  A two-arm, parallel, randomised controlled trial will be conducted at two Auckland hospitals in New Zealand. One hundred twenty participants will be randomised to receive a 24-week evidence- and theory-based personalised text message program and access to a supporting website in addition to usual CR care or usual CR care alone (control). The primary outcome is the proportion of participants adhering to healthy behaviours at 6 months, measured using a composite health behaviour score. Secondary outcomes include overall cardiovascular disease risk, body composition, illness perceptions, self-efficacy, hospital anxiety/depression and medication adherence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study is one of the first to examine an mHealth-delivered comprehensive CR program. Strengths of the trial include quality research design and in-depth description of the intervention to aid replication. If effective, the trial has potential to augment standard CR practices and to be used as a model for other disease prevention or self-management programs.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12613000901707.
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Health Innovation, University of Auckland, 261 Morrin Rd, Auckland 1072, New Zealand. l.pfaeffli@nihi.auckland.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Leila Pfaeffli
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Dale
authors.forename: Robyn
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Whittaker
authors.forename: Yannan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Ralph
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rolleston
authors.forename: Ralph
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maddison
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000517:prevention & control; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D040421:Cell Phone; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects; D015444:Exercise; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D055118:Medication Adherence; D009520:New Zealand; D012107:Research Design; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D012648:Self Care; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D060145:Text Messaging; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D002317:Cardiovascular Agents