Characteristics of included studies
| First author, year | Country | Study design | Setting | Participant characteristics | Primary outcome(s) | Quality rating | |||
| Sample size (I/C) | Age (years), mean (±SD) | % Male | Condition | ||||||
| Aliabad et al., 201419 | Iran | RCT | Hospital | 96 (48/48) | I: 57.8 (8.7) C: 56.7 (9.0) | 84.4% | CHD | Risk perception, self-efficacy, behavioural intention, outcome expectancies, action planning | Strong |
| Bates et al., 201429 | USA | Pre–post study | Hospital | 189 (92/97) | I: 64.0 (11.0) C: 62.0 (10.8) | 69.3% | Post-CABG | 30-day readmission rate; patient perception of care | Moderate |
| Cao et al., 201736 | China | RCT | Hospital | 236 (118/118) | I: 68.1 (9.4) C: 68.1 (10.2) | 72.9% | CHD | 30-day and 90-day re-admission rates | Strong |
| Colella and King-Shier, 201824 | Canada | RCT | Hospital | 209 (69/140) | I: 63.6 (9.9) C: 63.4 (10.7) | 100% | Post-CABG | Depression; perceived social support; health service use | Strong |
| Dontje et al., 201332 | USA | Before and after study | Primary care centre | 34* | – | 69.0% | CAD | CAD knowledge; confidence with shared decision-making | Weak |
| Duan et al., 201827 | China | RCT | CR centre | 114 (60/54) | I: 45.8 (14.7) C: 51.6 (11.6) | 46.5% | CHD | Physical activity; fruit and vegetable consumption | Strong |
| Eckman et al., 201238 | USA | RCT | Ambulatory practice (outpatient) | 170 (83/87) | I: 58.5 C: 61.4 | 38.8% | CAD, Angina, MI | CAD knowledge; weight and blood pressure; diet; exercise; smoking status | Moderate |
| Fors et al., 201531 | Sweden | RCT | Hospital and outpatient | 199 (94/105) | I: 60.5 (9.3) C: 61.3 (8.9) | 72.4% | ACS | Self-efficacy; return to work; return to prior activity level | Moderate |
| Furze et al., 201226 | UK | RCT | Hospital | 142 (70/72) | I: 65.3 (9.7) C: 63.6 (10.2) | 52.8% | Angina | Frequency of angina | Strong |
| Hald et al., 201935 | Denmark | Prospective cohort study | Hospital | 379* | 57.0 | 75.0% | Acute MI | Health service use, annual consultations, all-cause or CVD hospital admissions | Strong |
| Cohen et al., 201239 | USA | RCT (four arms) | Primary care centre | 435 (1021,1212, 1163/96) | I1: 64.9 (10.4) I2: 63.6 (11.3) I3: 62.8 (10.0) C: 63.7 (9.3) | 44.4% | CHD | Medication refill adherence | Strong |
| Lau-Walker et al., 201633 | UK | Before & after study | Heart centre (Outpatient) | 74* | 58.0 (12.0) | 78.4% | Acute MI | Cardiac self-efficacy; anxiety and depression; quality of life | Moderate |
| Lee et al., 201930 | Taiwan | Prospective cohort study | Hospital | 282 (206/76) | I: 67.1 (14.6) C: 72.1 (12.4) | 66.7% | ACS | Prescription rate of ACS medications | Weak |
| Lynggaard et al., 201723 | Denmark | RCT | Hospital | 827 (413/412) | I: 63.0 (10.0) C: 63.0 (11.0) | 75.6% | IHD, Heart failure | Adherence to exercise training or education sessions | Strong |
| Mohammadpourhodki et al., 201925 | Iran | RCT | Hospital | 60 (30/30) | 42–65† | 65% | Acute MI | Anxiety | Strong |
| O’Brien et al., 201420 | Ireland | RCT | Hospital | 1136 (585/551) | I: 62.9 (11.1) C: 64.3 (11.2) | 72.2% | ACS | Knowledge, attitudes and beliefs | Moderate |
| Sabzmakan et al., 201021 | Iran | RCT | Heart centre (outpatient) | 54 (27/27) | I: 56.9 (7.2) C: 56.6 (7.6) | – | Post-CABG | Depression; quality of life; self-help behaviours | Strong |
| Sakakibara et al., 201728 | Canada | Before and after study | Hospital+outpatient | 35* | 57 (10)‡ | 0% | CAD | Self-management; social support; quality of life | Weak |
| Shen et al., 201834 | China | Controlled clinical trial | Community centre | 120 (68/52) | I: 70.2 (7.8) C: 69.2 (7.8) | 53.3% | CAD | Self-management of CHD; knowledge and self-efficacy | Moderate |
| Tongpeth et al., 201837 | Australia | RCT | Hospital | 70 (35/35) | I: 65.0 (12.5) C: 64.0 (10.9) | 62.9% | ACS | Knowledge, attitudes and beliefs | Strong |
| Varaei et al., 201422 | Iran | RCT | Hospital | 60 (30/30) | I: 58.9 (8.3) C: 60.7 (8.0) | 76.7% | Post-CABG | Cardiac self-efficacy; hospital re-admissions | Strong |
*Mean & 95% CI.
†Range.
‡Median (IQR).
ACE, ACE converting enzyme;; ACS, acute coronary syndrome; C, control group; CABG, coronary artery bypass surgery; CAD, coronary artery disease; CHD, coronary heart disease; CR, cardiac rehabilitation; CVD, cardiovascular disease; I, intervention group; IHD, ischaemic heart disease; MI, myocardial infarction; RCT, randomised controlled trial.