Understanding adaptive tasks in cardiac rehabilitation among patients with acute myocardial infarction: a qualitative study

Figures & data

Table 1. Descriptions of three stages of CR service and patients’ involvement.

CR stage	Description of CR service provided by the CRC	Participants	Approaches of data collection
In-hospital stage for clinical rehab	Bedside guidance on physical exercise provided by a cardiac therapist Health education provided by nurses CR referrals by physicians	16 patients (2 females, 14 males)	Semi-structured interviews Questionnaire surveys
Centre-based stage for outpatient rehab	Case management overseen by nurses Assessment and therapeutical treatment by physicians Practical CR interventions led by a cardiac therapist	19 patients (2 females, 17 males)	Semi-structured interviews Recorded history of follow-up clinical visits from digital medical systems
Home-based stage for post-cardiac rehab	Wireless devices enabling remote monitoring Communication access with healthcare providers Internet-enabled patient interface	9 patients (1 female, 8 males) (4 patients retained from the centred- based stage)	Semi-structured interviews Patient-generated data with situational contexts and e-consultation texts

Table 2. Characteristics of participants (n = 40).

Variables		n %
Gender
	Male	35 (87.5)
	Female	5 (12.5)
Marital status
	Unmarried	3 (7.5)
	Married	34 (85)
	Windowed	3 (7.5)
Education level
	0-9 years (primary or junior school)	7 (17.5)
	9-12 years (Senior school)	10 (25)
	13-16 years (undergraduate)	21 (52.5)
	>17 years (postgraduate)	2 (5)
Job position
	Staff	8 (20)
	Manager	7 (17.5)
	Engineer	5 (12.5)
	Policeman or soldier	3 (7.5)
	Worker	5 (12.5)
	Freelance	2 (5)
	Unemployed	3 (7.5)
	Retired	7 (17.5)
Monthly income
	0-5000 CNY (≅ 700 USD)	2 (5)
	5000-10000 CNY (≅ 1450 USD)	23 (57.5)
	>10000 CNY (≅ 1450 USD)	15 (37.5)
Health insurance
	Governmental health insurance	30 (75)
	Out-of-pocket	7 (17.5)
	Others	3 (7.5)

Figure 1. Normalizing adaptive tasks of AMI patients in CR process.

Table 3. AMI patients’ adaptive tasks across different CR stages.

CR stage	Coherence	Cognitive participation	Collective action	Reflective monitoring
In-hospital stage for clinical rehab	Gathering information about CR service Feeling urgency to change health-risky behaviours	Making a personal commitment Involving and educating caregivers Consulting healthcare professionals	Scheduling follow-ups Prioritizing prescription medicine, diet, and physical activities Cultivating motivation for behaviour change Seeking confirmation of CR benefits Adjusting lifestyles or job status	Expecting promised outcomes Perceived preparedness for hospital discharge
Centre-based stage for outpatient rehab	Acquiring information on centre-based CR interventions Considering long-term care implications	Understanding self-role and function Maintaining communication with healthcare professionals Learning from peers and sharing insights	Attending periodic visits Accepting changes in physical capacity to manage life challenges Exploring personalized approaches Embracing supportive technologies Accepting the time investment Adjusting life/job status	Reviewing CR participation and providing feedback Managing health expectations Perceived preparedness for self-care
Home-based stage for post-cardiac rehab	Gathering information on home-based CR interventions	Seeking available healthcare professionals and service Seeking support from communities	Rebuilding daily routine Learning about self-monitoring of symptoms Embracing supportive technologies Adhering to lifestyle changes Self-awareness in adapting to illness	Assuming responsibility for social roles Perceived preparedness to return to work/normal life

Data availability statement

The data is available upon a reasonable request from the corresponding author.