OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of a pedometer-based telephone intervention on the physical activity levels of cardiac patients who did not attend a CRP. METHODS: A randomised controlled trial was conducted with 215 patients referred to a CRP but who could not or chose not to attend. The 6-week intervention included self-monitoring of physical activity using a pedometer and step calendar; and behavioural counselling and goal setting sessions. Data were collected at baseline, 6 weeks and 6 months. RESULTS: Study groups did not differ significantly at baseline. After 6 weeks, improvements in total physical activity time (p = 0.027), total physical activity sessions (p = 0.003), walking time (p = 0.013) and walking sessions (p = 0.002) in the intervention group were significantly greater than the control group after adjusting for baseline differences, and remained significant at 6 months. CONCLUSION: The findings that the pedometer-based telephone intervention was successful in increasing physical activity levels in cardiac patients who did not attend a CRP could result in major health benefits for this group of people. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The pedometer-based telephone intervention could be offered as an effective and accessible option for patients not attending a CRP to increase and maintain their physical activity levels after hospitalisation.
With permission from Excerpta Medica Inc.

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