TEXT4HealthyHeart - texting for Cardiac Rehabilitation

This project examines the effect of a text message program (TEXT4HealthyHeart) on reducing overweight and obesity for people referred to a Cardiac Rehabilitation Program (CRP). Despite the established health benefits of CRP participation, the majority of people with cardiovascular diseases are overweight and inactive. Furthermore, not all of those referred to a CRP after a cardiovascular event choose to participate. A review of interventions designed to ameliorate this trend revealed the use of text message programs which have shown beneficial outcomes for people with coronary heart disease (CHD). Participants will receive specifically selected automatic daily text messages for 6 months on weight reduction, nutrition and physical activity, which have been developed in previous studies. Text messages will take less than a minute to read, and replies will not be received however participants will be able to discuss any relevant matters with their Cardiac Rehabilitation CNC. Participants will also receive a step recording calendar and will be supplied with a step counting device if they do not have one. Objective and self-report measures will be collected directly from the participant at baseline, 3 months and at 6 months. The delivery of the text messages as well as collection of objective data will be overseen by the site CRP Clinical Nurse Consultant (CNC), who has specific expertise and training in cardiac rehabilitation programs.