Telephone support oriented by accelerometric measurements enhances adherence to physical activity recommendations in noncompliant patients after a cardiac rehabilitation program.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the efficacy of a strategy, based on telephone support oriented by accelerometer measurements, on the adherence to physical activity (PA) recommendations in cardiac patients not achieving PA recommendations.

DESIGN

Prospective and randomized study.

SETTING

A cardiac rehabilitation program (CRP) at a clinic.

PARTICIPANTS

Stable, noncompliant cardiac (coronary artery disease, heart failure, post-cardiovascular surgery) patients (weekly moderate-intensity PA <150 min) were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n=19) or a control group (n=10).

INTERVENTIONS

The intervention group wore an accelerometer for 8 weeks. Every 15 days, feedback and support were provided by telephone. The control group wore the accelerometer during the 8th week of the intervention only.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Active energy expenditure (EE) (in kilocalories) and the time spent doing light, moderate, or intense PA (minutes per week).

RESULTS

In the intervention group, the time spent at moderate-intensity PA increased from 95.6±80.7 to 137.2±87.5 min/wk between the 1st and 8th week (P=.002), with 36.8% of the sample achieving the target amount of moderate-intensity PA. During the 8th week, the EE averaged 543.7±144.1 kcal and 266.7±107.4 kcal in the intervention group and control group, respectively (P=.004).

CONCLUSIONS

Telephone support based on accelerometer recordings appeared to be an effective strategy to improve adherence to PA in noncompliant patients. This intervention could be implemented after a CRP as an inexpensive, modern, and easy-to-use strategy.