title: Systematic review of the use of behaviour change techniques (BCTs) in home-based cardiac rehabilitation programmes for patients with cardiovascular disease--protocol.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), including myocardial infarction, heart failure, peripheral arterial disease and strokes, are highly prevalent conditions and are associated with high morbidity and mortality. Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is an effective form of secondary prevention for CVD but there is a lack of information regarding which specific behaviour change techniques (BCTs) are included in programmes that are associated with improvements in cardiovascular risk factors. This systematic review will describe the BCTs which are utilised within home-based CR programmes that are effective at reducing a spectrum of CVD risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  The review will be reported in line with the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidance. Randomised and quasi-randomised controlled trials of home-based CR initiated following a vascular event (myocardial infarction, heart failure, peripheral arterial disease and stroke patients) will be included. Articles will be identified through a comprehensive search of MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, Web of Science and Cochrane Database guided by a medical librarian. Two review authors will independently screen articles retrieved from the search for eligibility and extract relevant data, identifying which specific BCTs are included in programmes that are associated with improvements in particular modifiable vascular risk factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This review will be of value to clinicians and healthcare professionals working with cardiovascular patients by identifying specific BCTs which are used within effective home-based CR. It will also inform the future design and evaluation of complex health service interventions aimed at secondary prevention in CVD.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  PROSPERO registration CRD42015027036 .
authors.affiliation: Centre for Public Health, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Science, Queens University Belfast, Room 01012, Institute of Clinical Science B, Royal Victoria Hospital, Grosvenor Road, Belfast, BT12 6BA, UK. nheron02@qub.ac.uk.|UKCRC Centre of Excellence for Public Health (Northern Ireland), Institute of Clinical Science B, Royal Victoria Hospital, Grosvenor Road, Belfast, BT12 6BA, UK. nheron02@qub.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Heron
authors.affiliation: Centre for Public Health, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Science, Queens University Belfast, Room 01012, Institute of Clinical Science B, Royal Victoria Hospital, Grosvenor Road, Belfast, BT12 6BA, UK. f.kee@qub.ac.uk.|UKCRC Centre of Excellence for Public Health (Northern Ireland), Institute of Clinical Science B, Royal Victoria Hospital, Grosvenor Road, Belfast, BT12 6BA, UK. f.kee@qub.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kee
authors.affiliation: Centre for Public Health, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Science, Queens University Belfast, Room 01012, Institute of Clinical Science B, Royal Victoria Hospital, Grosvenor Road, Belfast, BT12 6BA, UK. Michael.donnelly@qub.ac.uk.|UKCRC Centre of Excellence for Public Health (Northern Ireland), Institute of Clinical Science B, Royal Victoria Hospital, Grosvenor Road, Belfast, BT12 6BA, UK. Michael.donnelly@qub.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Donnelly
authors.affiliation: Centre for Public Health, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Science, Queens University Belfast, Room 01012, Institute of Clinical Science B, Royal Victoria Hospital, Grosvenor Road, Belfast, BT12 6BA, UK. m.tully@qub.ac.uk.|UKCRC Centre of Excellence for Public Health (Northern Ireland), Institute of Clinical Science B, Royal Victoria Hospital, Grosvenor Road, Belfast, BT12 6BA, UK. m.tully@qub.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Tully
authors.affiliation: Centre for Public Health, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Science, Queens University Belfast, Room 01012, Institute of Clinical Science B, Royal Victoria Hospital, Grosvenor Road, Belfast, BT12 6BA, UK. m.cupples@qub.ac.uk.|UKCRC Centre of Excellence for Public Health (Northern Ireland), Institute of Clinical Science B, Royal Victoria Hospital, Grosvenor Road, Belfast, BT12 6BA, UK. m.cupples@qub.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Margaret E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Cupples
mesh_terms: D001521:Behavior Therapy; D000072038:Cardiac Rehabilitation; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015438:Health Behavior; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D012107:Research Design; D012307:Risk Factors; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D000078202:Systematic Reviews as Topic