The effect of web-based education delivered as part of cardiac rehabilitation on healthy lifestyle behaviors, and quality of life in patients with coronary artery disease in Turkey: A randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of web-based education delivered as part of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) on healthy lifestyle behaviors, and quality of life in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) in Turkey.

METHOD: This study is a randomized controlled trial. The experimental group (n = 35) received web-based education and telephone counseling for 12 weeks after discharge, while the control group (n = 35) received standard care.

RESULTS

Post-test healthy lifestyle behaviors scale total score and total scores of all sub-dimensions except nutrition were higher in the experimental group (p < 0.05). The post-test international physical activity total score, and VAS scale scores of the experimental group and were significantly higher (p < 0.05). The number of non-smoking patients in the post-test was statistically significantly higher in the experimental group (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The results showed that web-based education delivered as part of CR in a Turkish hospital improved healthy lifestyle behaviors, physical activity level, and quality of life in CAD.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Our study proved that web-based education delivered as part of CR, nurse follow-up, and telephone counseling services may be effective tools for CAD patients to adhere to healthy lifestyle behaviors, and to promote quality of life and smoking cessation.