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Cardiac rehabilitation program for Chinese migrants in Australia

Cardiovascular disease is Australia's leading cause of death, accounting for 26 per cent of all deaths.

Cardiac rehabilitation programs are effective and support long-term lifestyle changes, improved health-related quality of life, reduced risk of death from heart disease, and reduced hospital readmissions. However, current cardiac rehabilitation programs, based on the traditional models of care that have been in use since the 80s and 90s, have low participation and high dropout rates. In Australia, only 30 per cent of patients are referred to cardiac rehabilitation programs, of which only 28 per cent attend. Furthermore, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds with higher rates of cardiovascular disease have lower rates of participation cardiac rehabilitation programs.

Researchers at NICM Health Research Institute are currently recruiting participants to volunteer for a study investigating the feasibility, acceptance, effects and cost-effectiveness of a new co-designed, community-based cardiac rehabilitation program for Chinese migrants in Australia. This cardiac rehabilitation program includes health education, shared medical appointment and virtual tai chi classes.

This study will help inform the design of a large-scale study to determine the cost-effectiveness of the cardiac rehabilitation program and the health benefits gained from a 24-week program.

Who can join?

  • People aged over 18 years, living in Australia who:
    • Are an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
    • Are of Chinese ancestry, speak Mandarin or Cantonese at home, and can read Chinese (traditional or simplified).
    • Have had myocardial infarction, heart failure or heart surgery.
    • Have been discharged home for at least 12-weeks.
    • Have a mobile phone and the capacity to receive and understand mobile text messages.
    • Have access to the internet.

What's involved?

Participants will:

  • Read the participant information sheet and provide consent.
  • Take a demographic and medical history survey.
  • Participate in a virtual 24-week cardiac rehabilitation program.
  • Undertake your blood tests at local Laverty Pathology.
  • Complete questionnaires about your health.
  • Monitor your cardiovascular risk factors using provided wireless devices.
  • Participate in a satisfaction interview at the completion of the program.

What are the benefits of participating?

  • Participants will have opportunity to learn about more about heart health.
  • Participants will be able to share common experiences with other Chinese migrants in Australia and learn from other’s experiences.
  • Participants will have opportunity to attend virtual tai chi classes and learn self-care methods that can be used in everyday life.
  • Participants will be helping to advance medical research, which may assist in the development of a cardiac rehabilitation program.

Interested in participating in this study?

For more details about the study, please read the following information before deciding whether to participate.

For more information, please contact:

Dr Guoyan Yang
NICM Health Research Institute, Study Chief Investigator
e.     e.yang@westernsydney.edu.au
p.     +61 2 9685 4732

Human Research Ethics Committee Approval: This Project has been approved by Western Sydney University Human Research Ethics Committee (Approval Number: H15154). This study is supported by NICM Health Research Institute and Western Sydney University.

Recruitment end date: 30 October 2023

Study Coordinating Principal Investigator: Dr Guoyan Yang, NICM Health Research Institute.

ACTRN12623000175673 (opens in a new window)