@article { , title = {How has technology been used to deliver cardiac rehabilitation during the COVID-19 pandemic? An international cross-sectional survey of healthcare professionals conducted by the BACPR.}, abstract = {Objective: To investigate whether exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation services continued during the COVID-19 pandemic and how technology has been used to deliver home-based cardiac rehabilitation. Design: A mixed methods survey including questions about exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation service provision, programme diversity, patient complexity, technology use, barriers to using technology, and safety. Setting: International survey of exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation programmes. Participants: Healthcare professionals working in exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation programmes worldwide. Main outcome measures: The proportion of programmes that continued providing exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation and which technologies had been used to deliver home-based cardiac rehabilitation. Results: Three hundred and thirty eligible responses were received; 89.7\% were from the UK. Approximately half (49.3\%) of respondents reported that cardiac rehabilitation programmes were suspended due to COVID-19. Of programmes that continued, 25.8\% used technology before the COVID-19 pandemic. Programmes typically started using technology within 19 days of COVID-19 becoming a pandemic. 48.8\% did not provide cardiac rehabilitation to high-risk patients, telephone was most commonly used to deliver cardiac rehabilitation, and some centres used sophisticated technology such as teleconferencing. Conclusions: The rapid adoption of technology into standard practice is promising and may improve access to, and participation in, exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation beyond COVID-19. However, the exclusion of certain patient groups and programme suspension could worsen clinical symptoms and well-being, and increase hospital admissions. Refinement of current practices, with a focus on improving inclusivity and addressing safety concerns around exercise support to high-risk patients, may be needed.}, doi = {10.1136/bmjopen-2020-046051}, eissn = {2044-6055}, issn = {2044-6055}, issue = {4}, journal = {BMJ Open}, note = {INFO COMPLETE (Info via Scopus 6/5/2021 LM) PERMISSION GRANTED (version = VOR; embargo = none; licence = BY-NC; SHERPA = https://v2.sherpa.ac.uk/id/publication/17945 13/5/2021 LM) DOCUMENT READY (VOR downloaded 13/5/2021 LM) ADDITIONAL - Contact: Susan Dawkes}, publicationstatus = {Published}, publisher = {BMJ Publishing Group}, url = {https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/1335311}, volume = {11}, keyword = {Health & Wellbeing, COVID-19, COVID-19 pandemic, Exercise, Cardiac rehabilitation, Healthcare professionals, International healthcare policy, Local healthcare decision making, Rehabilitation medicine, Telemedicine, Adult cardiology}, year = {2021}, author = {O'Doherty, Alasdair F. and Humphreys, Helen and Dawkes, Susan and Cowie, Aynsley and Hinton, Sally and Brubaker, Peter H. and Butler, Tom and Nichols, Simon} }