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Software targets heart patient care
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April 30, 2003
Heart disease patients who complete the healthy heart program at St. Paul’s Hospital could soon return home to find their connection to health professionals and programs is just a click away
SFU kinesiologist Scott Lear is testing software he developed to help patients track their progress and maintain optimum health, wherever they live.
"Between one third and one half of patients participating in the program don’t live in the Lower Mainland. They will make the trip for surgeries and procedures, but typically, their communities don’t have the same follow-up services, and often, they are left to their own devices," says Lear.
A pilot study is underway involving 10 patients on a waiting list for the hospital’s cardio-rehabilitation program. Each patient will have a laptop computer and Internet access, and will input data, answer questions and follow advice over a 12-week period. Participants will then be interviewed.
Lear expects the trial run will highlight trends in improving activity levels while encouraging self-care.
Lear is also tracking the progress of 300 participants of the healthy heart program over a four-year period to see whether long-term ties with health professionals lead to better health. The four-month program for those diagnosed with heart disease has been run at St. Paul’s hospital for several years and is an integral part of treatment. "There is evidence suggesting that after they leave the program, patients may stop exercising, and after being off work for four months, tend not to keep up with activities once they return," says Lear. "I liken it to walking off a cliff."
Lear says simple upkeep of a health program could mean the difference between good health and health erosion, leading to further dependence on the health care system.
Lear is contacting patients monthly to monitor their progress. "If we can demonstrate that these patients are healthier as a result of health professionals simply calling once or twice a month to keep up that contact, that would have obvious benefits for the system in general," says Lear, who will wrap up the study next June.
Lear is also working with community health care workers on a study comparing obesity in 200 Lower Mainland Chinese, South Asian and European immigrants, to determine how the relationship between body fat and risk factors for heart disease differ between these groups. He will later include aboriginal groups. The results could help define body mass targets for these populations.
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Contact
Scott Lear, 604.291.3615, slear@sfu.ca
Marianne Meadahl/Julie Ovenell-Carter, Media & PR, 604.291.4323; mmeadahl@sfu.ca
SFU kinesiologist Scott Lear is testing software he developed to help patients track their progress and maintain optimum health, wherever they live.
"Between one third and one half of patients participating in the program don’t live in the Lower Mainland. They will make the trip for surgeries and procedures, but typically, their communities don’t have the same follow-up services, and often, they are left to their own devices," says Lear.
A pilot study is underway involving 10 patients on a waiting list for the hospital’s cardio-rehabilitation program. Each patient will have a laptop computer and Internet access, and will input data, answer questions and follow advice over a 12-week period. Participants will then be interviewed.
Lear expects the trial run will highlight trends in improving activity levels while encouraging self-care.
Lear is also tracking the progress of 300 participants of the healthy heart program over a four-year period to see whether long-term ties with health professionals lead to better health. The four-month program for those diagnosed with heart disease has been run at St. Paul’s hospital for several years and is an integral part of treatment. "There is evidence suggesting that after they leave the program, patients may stop exercising, and after being off work for four months, tend not to keep up with activities once they return," says Lear. "I liken it to walking off a cliff."
Lear says simple upkeep of a health program could mean the difference between good health and health erosion, leading to further dependence on the health care system.
Lear is contacting patients monthly to monitor their progress. "If we can demonstrate that these patients are healthier as a result of health professionals simply calling once or twice a month to keep up that contact, that would have obvious benefits for the system in general," says Lear, who will wrap up the study next June.
Lear is also working with community health care workers on a study comparing obesity in 200 Lower Mainland Chinese, South Asian and European immigrants, to determine how the relationship between body fat and risk factors for heart disease differ between these groups. He will later include aboriginal groups. The results could help define body mass targets for these populations.
—30—
Contact
Scott Lear, 604.291.3615, slear@sfu.ca
Marianne Meadahl/Julie Ovenell-Carter, Media & PR, 604.291.4323; mmeadahl@sfu.ca