Outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation Part I- Evaluation and Indicators Part II- Comparative analysis of various rehabilitation models and Phase III

Research area: Rehabilitation and occupational therapy

Duration: July 2007 - September 2008

Background:
Cardiac rehabilitation is an important therapeutic intervention to facilitate the reintegration of patients into society, family and work following acute cardiac events. Phase I of the cardiac rehabilitation consists of the early mobilization during the hospital stay after an acute cardiac event. Phase II consists of various other interventions, lasting 4 to 6 weeks, and administered in an outpatient or inpatient setting.

Aims and research objectives:
The objective of this systematic review is to assess the comparative efficacy and safety of inpatient and outpatient cardiac rehabilitation in defined populations. Furthermore, the report will examine how health systems, compared to the Austrian one, have evaluated the quality of cardiac outpatient rehabilitation. Based on these findings, the report will discuss valid outcome parameters that could be used to evaluate cardiac outpatient facilities in Austria.

Method:
Systematic review and analysis on outcome measurement and evaluation of outpatient cardiac rehabilitation.

Publication: HTA-Project Report 15

Contact: Brigitte Piso