Overall style and general characteristics of Australian exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation services
| Characteristic | Number of programmes (%) | |
|---|---|---|
| Type of programme (n=251) | ||
| Comprehensive CR services offered for all patients | 180 | (72.3) |
| Modular (CR services offered vary by patient) | 57 | (22.9) |
| Exercise only | 9 | (3.6) |
| Non-CR specific chronic disease exercise classes | 5 | (2.0) |
| Content of programme (n=251) | ||
| Exercise training | 251 | (100) |
| Health education (eg, risk factors, chest pain management) | 245 | (97.6) |
| Dietary advice or counselling | 222 | (88.4) |
| Psychological advice or counselling | 217 | (86.5) |
| Medication education | 215 | (85.7) |
| Relaxation training | 189 | (75.3) |
| Smoking cessation | 166 | (66.1) |
| Programme setting for exercise (n=251) | ||
| Hospital outpatient centre | 204 | (81.3) |
| Community (eg, hall, park, local medical practice) | 46 | (18.3) |
| Home | 37 | (14.7) |
| Commercial gym | 12 | (4.8) |
| Programme staff (n=241) | ||
| Nurse | 213 | (88.4) |
| Dietitian/nutritionist | 198 | (82.2) |
| Physiotherapist | 185 | (76.8) |
| Pharmacist | 167 | (69.3) |
| Occupational therapist | 146 | (60.6) |
| Social worker | 126 | (52.3) |
| Allied health assistant/physiotherapy assistant | 92 | (38.2) |
| Exercise physiologist | 79 | (32.8) |
| Psychologist | 69 | (28.7) |
| Doctor (other than cardiologist) | 46 | (19.1) |
| Cardiologist | 34 | (14.1) |
| Cultural health worker | 28 | (11.6) |
| Other* | 32 | (13.3) |
| Technology used to deliver programme, or support patients (n=228) | ||
| Telephone (motivation and support) | 62 | (27.2) |
| Videoconferencing (off-site education) | 13 | (5.7) |
| Internet (telehealth, off-site education) | 7 | (3.0) |
| Mobile phone (SMS reminders, smart phone applications) | 5 | (2.2) |
*Other professions added as additional text entries: diabetes educator (n=7), paramedic/ambulance officer (n=6), personal trainer (n=5), health promotion officer (n=4), drug and alcohol counsellor (n=3), peer (n=3), podiatrist (n=2), pastoral care (n=2).
CR, cardiac rehabilitation.