Designing and testing telehealth interventions to improve outcomes for cardiovascular patients.

This article presents considerations for the design and testing of electronic interventions to improve recovery outcomes in cardiac patients. A brief description of the design and testing of 2 telehealth interventions for cardiac patients is provided: HeartCare and E-CHANGE. The HeartCare project was a randomized trial of a home support program for patients after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. E-CHANGE is an Internet-based home support program designed to increase lifestyle exercise after a cardiac event. Lessons learned from these 2 projects regarding design considerations, system use, effectiveness, and research challenges are discussed. Methods to promote the preservation of nursing values in electronic systems are described, as well nursing roles in the use of computer-assisted care.