Abstract
Background: The positive effects of cardiac rehabilitation are well established. However, it has an inherent challenge,
namely the low attendance rate among older vulnerable patients, which illustrates the need for effective interventions.
Peer mentoring is a low-cost intervention that has the potential to improve cardiac rehabilitation attendance
and improve physical and psychological outcomes among older patients. The aim of this study was to test the feasibility
and acceptability of a peer-mentor intervention among older vulnerable myocardial infarction patients referred
to cardiac rehabilitation.
Methods: The study was conducted as a single-arm feasibility study and designed as a mixed methods intervention
study. Patients admitted to a university hospital in Denmark between September 2020 and December 2020 received
a 24-week peer-mentor intervention. The feasibility of the intervention was evaluated based on five criteria by Orsmond
and Cohn: (a) recruitment capability, (b) data-collection procedures, (c) intervention acceptability, (d) available
resources, and (e) participant responses to the intervention. Data were collected through self-administrated questionnaires,
closed-ended telephone interviews, semi-structured interviews, and document sheets.
Results: Twenty patients were offered the peer-mentor intervention. The intervention proved feasible, with a low
dropout rate and high acceptability. However, the original inclusion criteria only involved vulnerable women, and this
proved not to be feasible, and were therefore revised to also include vulnerable male patients. Peer mentors (n = 17)
were monitored during the intervention period, and the findings indicate that their mentoring role did not cause any
harm. The peer-mentor intervention showed signs of effectiveness, as a high rate of cardiac rehabilitation attendance
was achieved among patients. Quality of life also increased among patients. This was the case for emotional, physical,
and global quality of life measures at 24-week follow-up.
Conclusion: The peer-mentor intervention is a feasible and acceptable intervention that holds the potential to
increase both cardiac rehabilitation attendance and quality of life in older vulnerable patients. This finding paves
the way for peer-mentor interventions to be tested in randomized controlled trials, with a view toward reducing
namely the low attendance rate among older vulnerable patients, which illustrates the need for effective interventions.
Peer mentoring is a low-cost intervention that has the potential to improve cardiac rehabilitation attendance
and improve physical and psychological outcomes among older patients. The aim of this study was to test the feasibility
and acceptability of a peer-mentor intervention among older vulnerable myocardial infarction patients referred
to cardiac rehabilitation.
Methods: The study was conducted as a single-arm feasibility study and designed as a mixed methods intervention
study. Patients admitted to a university hospital in Denmark between September 2020 and December 2020 received
a 24-week peer-mentor intervention. The feasibility of the intervention was evaluated based on five criteria by Orsmond
and Cohn: (a) recruitment capability, (b) data-collection procedures, (c) intervention acceptability, (d) available
resources, and (e) participant responses to the intervention. Data were collected through self-administrated questionnaires,
closed-ended telephone interviews, semi-structured interviews, and document sheets.
Results: Twenty patients were offered the peer-mentor intervention. The intervention proved feasible, with a low
dropout rate and high acceptability. However, the original inclusion criteria only involved vulnerable women, and this
proved not to be feasible, and were therefore revised to also include vulnerable male patients. Peer mentors (n = 17)
were monitored during the intervention period, and the findings indicate that their mentoring role did not cause any
harm. The peer-mentor intervention showed signs of effectiveness, as a high rate of cardiac rehabilitation attendance
was achieved among patients. Quality of life also increased among patients. This was the case for emotional, physical,
and global quality of life measures at 24-week follow-up.
Conclusion: The peer-mentor intervention is a feasible and acceptable intervention that holds the potential to
increase both cardiac rehabilitation attendance and quality of life in older vulnerable patients. This finding paves
the way for peer-mentor interventions to be tested in randomized controlled trials, with a view toward reducing
| Originalsprog | Engelsk |
|---|---|
| Artikelnummer | 172 |
| Tidsskrift | Pilot and Feasibility Studies |
| Vol/bind | 8 |
| Udgave nummer | 1 |
| Antal sider | 23 |
| ISSN | 2055-5784 |
| DOI | |
| Status | Udgivet - dec. 2022 |
| Udgivet eksternt | Ja |