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Cleary CM, Adajian A, Gifford ED, Healy L, Li YH, Dawiczyk S, Bozeman P, Guerin E, Farrell H, Shah P. Patient Reported Barriers for Participation in Supervised Exercise Therapy for Symptomatic Peripheral Artery Disease. Ann Vasc Surg 2024; 106:124-131. [PMID: 38810724 DOI: 10.1016/j.avsg.2024.02.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Supervised exercise therapy (SET) provides clinical benefit for patients suffering from intermittent claudication due to peripheral artery disease (PAD). However, enrollment in programs when offered remains low. We sought to identify patient-reported barriers to enrollment in SET as part of a prospective quality improvement program. METHODS Patients who presented to clinic and were diagnosed with claudication were offered enrollment in a prospective quality improvement protocol, offered at 9 regional offices throughout our health system. Both patients who enrolled and declined enrollment were offered a 12-question questionnaire to identify potential barriers to enrollment. Additional data including gender, smoking status, ankle-brachial index (ABI), proximity to the nearest regional office, and disadvantage levels of neighborhoods (low: 1-3, medium: 4-7, and high: 8-10 area deprivation index [ADI]) was collected and compared by program participation using univariate analysis. RESULTS Patients enrolled in the SET program (n = 66 patients) versus those who declined (n = 84 patients) were of similar age (medium age: 71.4 vs. 69.7 years, P = 0.694), baseline ABI (0.6 vs. 0.6, P = 0.944), smoking status (former 56.1% vs. 53.6%, P = 0.668), distance away from outpatient center (8.2 mi vs. 8.4 mi, P = 0.249), and had similar Connecticut state ADIs (2021 high-disadvantage: 35.4% vs. 33.3%, P = 0.549). Patients participating in the SET program were more likely to be male (78.8% vs. 56.0%, P = 0.003). Top self-reported barriers for patients who declined participation included transportation/distance (39.3%), preference for independent walking (56.0%), inability to commit to 3 sessions per week (52.4%), and lack of interest (20.2%). In addition, a higher proportion of patients who declined participation identified severe barriers of preference for independent walking (39.3% vs. 1.5%, P < 0.001), inability to commit to 3 sessions per week (26.2% vs. 3.0% P < 0.001), transportation/distance issues (23.8% vs. 7.6% P = 0.008), and cost (27.4% vs. 9.1%, P = 0.005) as significant barriers for participation in SET. CONCLUSIONS Patients who declined participation in SET for PAD had similar disease status and access to care than participating counterparts. Top reported barriers to enrollment include a preference for independent walking, transportation/distance, commitment to 3x/week program, and cost, which highlight areas of focus for equitable access to these limb-saving services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin M Cleary
- University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT
| | - Allison Adajian
- Hartford Hospital Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Hartford, CT
| | - Edward D Gifford
- Hartford Hospital Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Hartford, CT
| | - Laura Healy
- University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT
| | - Ya-Huei Li
- Hartford HealthCare Research Administration, Hartford, CT
| | - Stephania Dawiczyk
- Hartford Hospital Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Hartford, CT
| | - Patricia Bozeman
- Hartford Hospital Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Hartford, CT
| | - Elizabeth Guerin
- Hartford Hospital Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Hartford, CT
| | - Hannah Farrell
- Hartford Hospital Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Hartford, CT
| | - Parth Shah
- Hartford Hospital Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Hartford, CT.
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Cleary CM, Adajian A, Gifford ED, Orosco E, Li YH, Healy L, Dawiczyk S, Bozeman P, Guerin E, Farrell H, Shah P. Incentives and individualized coaching improves completion rates of supervised exercise therapy for claudication. J Vasc Surg 2024:S0741-5214(24)01081-4. [PMID: 38912995 DOI: 10.1016/j.jvs.2024.04.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2024] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Supervised exercise therapy (SET) provides clinical benefit for patients suffering from intermittent claudication and has been widely recommended as first-line therapy before endovascular or surgical intervention. However, published rates of SET program completion range from 5% to 55%, with historic completion of 54% at our own institution. As such, we sought to identify if targeted patient-supportive interventions improve SET completion rates while still maintaining efficacious SET programming. METHODS Patients who were diagnosed with intermittent claudication, as defined by ankle-brachial index (ABI) <0.9 without rest pain, were offered enrollment in a prospective quality improvement protocol for our 12-week SET for peripheral artery disease program. Program completion was defined as ≥24 of 36 offered sessions over 12 weeks. A three-pronged approach was utilized to improve completion during the study, including financial incentives up to $180, scheduled coaching with our advanced practitioner staff, and informational materials on the importance of SET programming and lifestyle modification. Patient-reported improvements in walking symptoms were tracked via regularly administered questionnaires. Functional measures of SET programming including total walking duration and distance, metabolic equivalent of task, and ABIs; vascular intervention within 12-months after enrollment was also collected and compared using univariate paired analysis. RESULTS In total, seventy-three patients were enrolled in SET for peripheral artery disease programming over the study period. Utilizing our three-pronged coaching approach, 56 patients completed SET programming, increasing our SET completion rate to 76.7% over a 2-year study period. Compared with pre-SET baseline, patients who completed SET noted less pain, aching, cramps in calves when walking (P = .004), and less difficulty walking 1 block (P = .038). Additionally, patients significantly increased their metabolic equivalent of task (3.1 vs 2.6; P < .001), total walking duration (30 mins vs 13.5 mins; P < .001), and total walking distance (0.7 vs 0.3 miles; P < .001) from their pre-SET baseline. There were no changes in participant ABIs from enrollment to completion in participants. Patients who completed SET programming also delayed vascular intervention compared with those who did not complete SET or declined participation (213.5 vs 122.5 days from enrollment; P = .041). CONCLUSIONS Targeted incentives, including cost-coverage vouchers and personalized coaching with instructional materials, successfully improved patient completion of a prescribed SET program. Patients who completed SET programming reported subjective improvement in walking symptoms and objective walking benefits. In addition, these patients had delayed time to vascular intervention, supporting current vascular guidelines advocating for effective SET therapy prior to offering vascular intervention for intermittent claudication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin M Cleary
- University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT
| | - Allison Adajian
- Hartford Hospital Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Hartford, CT
| | - Edward D Gifford
- Hartford Hospital Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Hartford, CT
| | - Emily Orosco
- University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT
| | - Ya-Huei Li
- Hartford HealthCare Research Administration, Hartford, CT
| | - Laura Healy
- Hartford Hospital Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Hartford, CT
| | - Stephania Dawiczyk
- Hartford Hospital Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Hartford, CT
| | - Patricia Bozeman
- Hartford Hospital Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Hartford, CT
| | - Elizabeth Guerin
- Hartford Hospital Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Hartford, CT
| | - Hannah Farrell
- Hartford Hospital Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Hartford, CT
| | - Parth Shah
- Hartford Hospital Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Hartford, CT.
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McCready RA, Brown OW, Kiell CS, Goodson SF. Revascularization for claudication: Changing the natural history of a benign disease! J Vasc Surg 2024; 79:159-166. [PMID: 37619917 DOI: 10.1016/j.jvs.2023.07.066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The benign natural history of intermittent claudication was first documented in 1960 and has been reconfirmed in several subsequent studies. Excellent outcomes in patients with intermittent claudication can be achieved with exercise therapy and optimal medical management. Professional society guidelines have clearly stated that revascularization procedures should be performed only in patients with incapacitating claudication who have failed conservative therapy. Despite these guidelines, revascularization procedures, primarily percutaneous interventions, have been increasingly utilized in patients with claudication. Many of these patients are not even offered an attempt at medical therapy, and those who are often do not undergo a full course of treatment. Many studies document significant reintervention rates following revascularization, which are associated with increased rates of acute and chronic limb ischemia that may result in significant rates of amputation. The objectives of this study were to compare outcomes of conservative therapy to those seen in patients undergoing revascularization procedures and to determine the impact of revascularization on the natural history of claudication. METHODS Google Scholar and PubMed were searched for manuscripts on the conservative management of claudication and for those reporting outcomes following revascularization for claudication. RESULTS Despite early improvement in claudication symptoms following revascularization, multiple studies have demonstrated that long-term outcomes following revascularization are often no better than those obtained with conservative therapy. High reintervention rates (up to 43% for tibial atherectomies) result in high rates of both acute and chronic limb ischemia as compared with those patients undergoing medical therapy. In addition, amputation rates as high as 11% on long-term follow-up are seen in patients undergoing early revascularization. These patients also have a higher incidence of adverse cardiovascular events such as myocardial infarctions compared with patients treated medically. CONCLUSIONS Revascularization procedures negatively impact the natural history of claudication often resulting in multiple interventions, an increase in the incidence of acute and chronic limb ischemia, and an increased risk of amputation. Accordingly, informed consent requires that all patients undergoing early revascularization must be appraised of the potential negative impact of revascularization on the natural history of claudication.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - O William Brown
- Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital, Royal Oak, MI
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Lin JC, Welle N, Ding J, Chuen J. A look to the future: Pandemic-induced digital technologies in vascular surgery. Semin Vasc Surg 2021; 34:139-151. [PMID: 34642034 PMCID: PMC8502076 DOI: 10.1053/j.semvascsurg.2021.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Like many areas of medicine, vascular surgery has been transformed by the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic. Public health precautions to minimize disease transmission have led to reduced attendance at hospitals and clinics in elective and emergency settings; fewer face-to-face and hands-on clinical interactions; and increased reliance on telemedicine, virtual attendance, investigations, and digital therapeutics. However, a “silver lining” to the COVID-19 pandemic may be the mainstream acceptance and acceleration of telemedicine, remote monitoring, digital health technology, and three-dimensional technologies, such as three-dimensional printing and virtual reality, by connecting health care providers to patients in a safe, reliable, and timely manner, and supplanting face-to-face surgical simulation and training. This review explores the impact of these changes in the delivery of vascular surgical care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith C Lin
- Michigan State University College of Human Medicine 4660 S. Hagadorn Rd. Ste. #600 East Lansing, MI 48823.
| | - Nicholas Welle
- Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Lansing, MI
| | - Joel Ding
- Austin Health Department of Surgery, The University of Melbourne, Heidelberg, Australia
| | - Jason Chuen
- Austin Health Department of Surgery, The University of Melbourne, Heidelberg, Australia
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Lortz J, Simanovski J, Kuether T, Kreitschmann-Andermahr I, Ullrich G, Steinmetz M, Rammos C, Jánosi RA, Moebus S, Rassaf T, Paldán K. Needs and Requirements in the Designing of Mobile Interventions for Patients With Peripheral Arterial Disease: Questionnaire Study. JMIR Form Res 2020; 4:e15669. [PMID: 32663154 PMCID: PMC7435621 DOI: 10.2196/15669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2019] [Revised: 11/11/2019] [Accepted: 03/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The development of mobile interventions for noncommunicable diseases has increased in recent years. However, there is a dearth of apps for patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD), who frequently have an impaired ability to walk. Objective Using a patient-centered approach for the development of mobile interventions, we aim to describe the needs and requirements of patients with PAD regarding the overall care situation and the use of mobile interventions to perform supervised exercise therapy (SET). Methods A questionnaire survey was conducted in addition to a clinical examination at the vascular outpatient clinic of the West-German Heart and Vascular Center of the University Clinic Essen in Germany. Patients with diagnosed PAD were asked to answer questions on sociodemographic characteristics, PAD-related need for support, satisfaction with their health care situation, smartphone and app use, and requirements for the design of mobile interventions to support SET. Results Overall, a need for better support of patients with diagnosed PAD was identified. In total, 59.2% (n=180) expressed their desire for more support for their disease. Patients (n=304) had a mean age of 67 years and half of them (n=157, 51.6%) were smartphone users. We noted an interest in smartphone-supported SET, even for people who did not currently use a smartphone. “Information,” “feedback,” “choosing goals,” and “interaction with physicians and therapists” were rated the most relevant components of a potential app. Conclusions A need for the support of patients with PAD was determined. This was particularly evident with regard to disease literacy and the performance of SET. Based on a detailed description of patient characteristics, proposals for the design of mobile interventions adapted to the needs and requirements of patients can be derived.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Lortz
- Department of Cardiology and Vascular Medicine, West-German Heart and Vascular Center Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Jan Simanovski
- Centre for Urban Epidemiology, Institute for Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Tabea Kuether
- Centre of Competence Personal Analytics at the University of Duisburg-Essen, Department of Engineering Sciences, University of Duisburg-Essen, Duisburg, Germany
| | | | - Greta Ullrich
- Department of Cardiology and Vascular Medicine, West-German Heart and Vascular Center Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Martin Steinmetz
- Department of Cardiology and Vascular Medicine, West-German Heart and Vascular Center Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Christos Rammos
- Department of Cardiology and Vascular Medicine, West-German Heart and Vascular Center Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Rolf Alexander Jánosi
- Department of Cardiology and Vascular Medicine, West-German Heart and Vascular Center Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Susanne Moebus
- Centre for Urban Epidemiology, Institute for Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Tienush Rassaf
- Department of Cardiology and Vascular Medicine, West-German Heart and Vascular Center Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Katrin Paldán
- Centre for Urban Epidemiology, Institute for Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.,Centre of Competence Personal Analytics at the University of Duisburg-Essen, Department of Engineering Sciences, University of Duisburg-Essen, Duisburg, Germany
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