Supporting Patient-Pathways Towards Cardiac Rehabilitation
The HERO project was led by Isabel Höppchen (PhD Candidate) anchored with the research group on digital health interventions and application development led by Dr. Jan Smeddinck at the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Digital Health and Prevention (LBI-DHP).
Visit the HERO project website
HERO - The Heart Rehab Information Tool
Overview
Previous research has shown that patients feel uninformed about the follow-up treatment after an acute cardiac event, such as a heart attack. For example, it is often unclear how to obtain a referral for cardiac rehabilitation.
The concept for the HERO-app was developed in co-design workshops with 17 former rehabilitation participants and health experts from nursing and physiotherapy. The app serves as a digital companion to support patients transitioning from hospital to cardiac rehabilitation.
Video Demonstration
The following video provides an overview of the HERO app:
Evaluation Study
The HERO app is now being tested by patients in an evaluation study to find out whether the design and content are tailored to the needs of the users.
Co-Design Approach
The project employed a co-design methodology, involving both patients and healthcare professionals in the design process. This approach ensured that the final product addresses the actual needs and concerns of cardiac patients navigating the path to rehabilitation.
Through collaborative workshops, the team identified key information gaps and developed a digital solution that provides clear guidance on the rehabilitation process, including how to obtain referrals, what to expect during rehabilitation, and how to prepare for the transition.
Funding
This project was funded as part of the OIS Enrichment Fund of the OIS Center of the Ludwig Boltzmann Gesellschaft from September 2022 to March 2024, as well as through the core budget of the LBI-DHP.
Publications
Höppchen I, Kulnik ST, Meschtscherjakov A, Niebauer J, Pfannerstill F, Smeddinck JD, Strumegger EM, Young F, Wurhofer D. (2024). “Be with me and stay with me”: Insights from Co-Designing a Digital Companion to Support Patients Transitioning from Hospital to Cardiac Rehabilitation. In Proceedings of the 2024 ACM Designing Interactive Systems Conference (DIS ‘24). Association for Computing Machinery, New York, NY, USA, 890–904. https://doi.org/10.1145/3643834.3661633
Höppchen I, Kulnik ST, Meschtscherjakov A, Niebauer J, Pfannerstill P, Smeddinck JD, Strumegger EM, Young F, Wurhofer D. (2024). Co-designing an information map guiding patients on their journey to cardiac rehabilitation in Austria. European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, Volume 23, Issue Supplement_1. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurjcn/zvae098.073