Exploring Participant Journeys: Insights from the New Cardiac Rehabilitation Program at Victorian Heart Hospital. A Mixed Methods Electronic Survey Analysis

Chun Yin Lai, Katie Palmer, Madeleine Gin, Melody Yu, Shihoko Fukumori
Purpose:

The aims of this study were to identify participant level of satisfaction, perspectives and recommendations on VHH's new CR program.

Methods:

Mixed methods electronic survey analysis.

All participants of the VHH CR were invited via email and the data was de-identified. An individualised link was used and restricted through IP address to prevent multiple submissions. Ethics approval was gained (RES-23-0000-417Q) and followed the Checklist for Reporting of Survey Studies (CROSS). 

The survey included 18 five-point Likert and four open-ended questions, to rate satisfaction towards various CR components and providing feedback. Datasets were cross-over analysed by at least two researchers, and randomly assigned. Researcher’s interpretations were blinded to the other before cross-over reviewing.

Results:

Out of 260 participants, 84 unique responses were received before the deadline (32.2% response rate). Response rate was calculated by dividing the number of responses by the total number of questionnaires sent. Respondent characteristics were unavailable due to anonymity. Of the four CR groups at the VHH, sufficient data was received from two groups for analysis.

Seven incomplete responses were excluded from the Mann-Whitney U test via SPSS, which found a statistically significant difference only in the ‘appointment check-in process’ between the ‘Day’ and ‘Evening’ group (p = 0.038).

Satisfaction from the 'Day' and 'Evening' groups were reviewed. Overall, participants were satisfied with the CR program, with telehealth identified as being the main challenge for both groups, and additionally waitlist time in the 'Evening' group.

Conclusion(s):

Our findings indicated overall participant satisfaction and highlighted recommendations to improve the program including accessibility, telehealth services and waitlist times. Results are limited by minor discrepancies between analytical method, missing data and biases. VHH will further evaluate their CR program after implementing this study’s recommendations to measure improvements. 

Implications:

Other healthcare organisations may utilise this study to improve or evaluate their CR programs.

Funding acknowledgements:
This work was unfunded. We would like to acknowledge Monash Health in supporting the staff overseeing the undergraduate students involved.
Keywords:
heart
cardiovascular
consumer satisfaction
Primary topic:
Health promotion and wellbeing/healthy ageing/physical activity
Second topic:
Community based rehabilitation
Third topic:
Service delivery/emerging roles
Did this work require ethics approval?:
Yes
Name the institution and ethics committee that approved your work:
Monash Health Research Office as a Quality Assurance project
Provide the ethics approval number:
RES-23-0000-417Q
Has any of this material been/due to be published or presented at another national or international conference prior to the World Physiotherapy Congress 2025?:
No

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