Pilot RCT of mHealth intervention in adult elective cardiac surgery patients showed feasibility and acceptable uptake.

AIMS: To determine feasibility, acceptability and test protocol integrity, for testing a mobile health (mHealth) intervention focused on enhancing self-management after adult cardiac surgery. Secondary aims were to assess the effect of the intervention on 30-day readmission, quality of life, and knowledge, skill and confidence for self-help. METHODS AND RESULTS: A parallel-group, pilot randomized controlled trial was conducted in a major metropolitan publicly funded health service. Adult elective cardiac surgery patients discharged home within 30-days, able to understand spoken English, and use a smartphone, tablet or computer were eligible for inclusion. The mHealth intervention comprised patient narrative videos, and on-line resources focused on diagnosis, preparing for surgery, and immediate, and ongoing recovery. From August 2021 until the 23rd of December 2022, there were 341/516 elective cardiac surgery cases. Of 70 (20.5%) eligible patients, 61 (87.1%) participated. The mHealth intervention was accessed by 27 (84.4%) participants. When accessed, the intervention was feasible and acceptable for patients, there were no protocol violations. There was high viewing of content related to diagnosis, surgery and looking forward, compared with programmes related to rehabilitation. Readmission rates did not differ between groups. Participants taking action to manage their health in the intervention group incrementally increased from baseline to 90-day follow-up. CONCLUSION: The effect of patient narratives on patient activation warrants testing in an adequately powered randomized controlled trial. While the uptake of the mHealth intervention was modest, trends in actions for self-help and rate of 30-day readmission imply the intervention is potentially effective in improving self-help management. REGISTRATION: The Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12621000082808.