title: Attitudes towards acceptance of an innovative home-based and remote sensing rehabilitation protocol among cardiovascular patients in Shantou, China.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) protocols have diversified to include home-based cardiac tele-rehabilitation (HBCTR) as an alternative to hospital-based or center-based CR. To adopt the use of home-based cardiac tele-rehabilitation, it is necessary to assess cardiac patients' attitudes towards acceptance of such e-health technology, especially in China where knowledge of such technology is deficient.
  
  
  METHODS
  Interviews were conducted in the First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China. After percutaneous coronary interventional (PCI) surgery, patients completed the survey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 150 patients, only 13% had ever heard of HBCTR. After an introduction of our HBCTR program, 60% of patients were willing to participate in the program. From our multivariate analysis of questionnaire data, age (OR: 0.92, 95% CI: 0.86-0.98; P = 0.007), average family monthly income (OR: 0.13, 95% CI: 0.05-0.34; P < 0.001), education level (OR: 0.24, 95% CI: 0.10-0.59; P = 0.002) and physical exercise time (OR: 0.19, 95% CI: 0.06-0.56; P = 0.003) were independent predictors for acceptance of HBCTR. From the reasons for participation, patients selected: enhanced safety and independence (28.3%), ability to self-monitor physical conditions daily (25.4%), and having automatic and emergency alert (23.1%). Reasons for refusal were: too cumbersome operation (34.3%) and unnecessary protocol (19.4%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most patients lacked knowledge about HBCTR but volunteered to participate after they have learned about the program. Several personal and life-style factors influenced their acceptance of the program. These indicate that both improvement of technology and better understanding of the program will enhance active participation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China.
authors.forename: Jia-Ying
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China.
authors.forename: Ji-Lin
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada.
authors.forename: Zhong-Han
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China.
authors.forename: Duan-Min
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China.
authors.forename: Chang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China.
authors.forename: William W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Au
keywords: Cardiac rehabilitation; Mobile health; Remote-sensing; Tele-rehabilitation