BACKGROUND: Although the Internet has been shown to be an effective tool for supporting behavioural change in other chronic diseases, less in known about the efficacy of, or need for, Internet-based interventions in the prevention of coronary heart disease (CHD). AIMS: We investigated computer literacy, consumer need and perceived usefulness of the Internet as a secondary prevention tool in people with CHD. METHODS: A two-step mixed-method process was used that included a survey and two focus groups. The 12-item survey explored participants' access and confidence using the Internet. For the focus groups, we used standard methodology. RESULTS: We recruited 66 (88% response rate) consecutive cardiac patients; age 36-73 years (mean 64+/-13), mostly male (85%), whose primary language was predominantly English (67%). Seventy percent had a home computer with Internet access but only 20% reported researching their heart-health online. There was polarity between those with and without Internet access. Further, we found less women than men could complete online forms (p=0.03) and that participants aged over 65 years were less likely to access the Internet (p<0.01) and had lower confidence (p<0.01) than younger counterparts. Focus groups revealed challenges of an online secondary prevention service, but participants valued relevant, practical advice and placed strong emphasis on simple web design. CONCLUSION: Using a mixed-methods process we collected locally sensitive information about Internet usage and recommendations for future online health-management strategies. Some patients have more confidence using the Internet, therefore a range of multi-technological secondary prevention interventions should be considered based on individual need.
AD - Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney, and ANZAC Research Institute, Concord Hospital, Sydney, Australia. lis.neubeck@sydney.edu.au AN - 20810323 BT - European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing DP - NLM ET - 2010/09/03 LA - eng M1 - 4 N1 - Neubeck, LisAscanio, RhodaBauman, AdrianBriffa, TomClark, Alexander MFreedman, BenRedfern, JulieCanadian Institutes of Health Research/CanadaResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tNetherlandsEur J Cardiovasc Nurs. 2011 Dec;10(4):213-20. Epub 2010 Sep 1. N2 -BACKGROUND: Although the Internet has been shown to be an effective tool for supporting behavioural change in other chronic diseases, less in known about the efficacy of, or need for, Internet-based interventions in the prevention of coronary heart disease (CHD). AIMS: We investigated computer literacy, consumer need and perceived usefulness of the Internet as a secondary prevention tool in people with CHD. METHODS: A two-step mixed-method process was used that included a survey and two focus groups. The 12-item survey explored participants' access and confidence using the Internet. For the focus groups, we used standard methodology. RESULTS: We recruited 66 (88% response rate) consecutive cardiac patients; age 36-73 years (mean 64+/-13), mostly male (85%), whose primary language was predominantly English (67%). Seventy percent had a home computer with Internet access but only 20% reported researching their heart-health online. There was polarity between those with and without Internet access. Further, we found less women than men could complete online forms (p=0.03) and that participants aged over 65 years were less likely to access the Internet (p<0.01) and had lower confidence (p<0.01) than younger counterparts. Focus groups revealed challenges of an online secondary prevention service, but participants valued relevant, practical advice and placed strong emphasis on simple web design. CONCLUSION: Using a mixed-methods process we collected locally sensitive information about Internet usage and recommendations for future online health-management strategies. Some patients have more confidence using the Internet, therefore a range of multi-technological secondary prevention interventions should be considered based on individual need.
PY - 2011 SN - 1873-1953 (Electronic)1474-5151 (Linking) SP - 213 EP - 20 T2 - European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing TI - Planning locally relevant Internet programs for secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease VL - 10 ER -