Effectiveness of a virtual vs. in-person group-based education curriculum to increase disease-related knowledge and change health behaviour among cardiac rehabilitation participants

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of a virtual 12-week group-based education curriculum and to compare results with a retrospective cohort that received the same education in-person for 24 weeks.Methods: Participants completed online surveys (pre-and post-intervention) assessing disease-related knowledge, adherence to the Mediterranean diet, exercise self-efficacy, and satisfaction. The number of steps taken per day was recorded using a wearable device. Paired t tests and repeated measures ANOVA were used. A Bonferroni correction was applied(p < 0.01).Results: 80 CR participants receiving virtual education completed both assessments. Following virtual education, participants significantly increased knowledge(p < 0.001), adherence to the Mediterranean diet(p < 0.001) and number of daily steps(p = 0.01). These results were similarly observed in the in-person education group(n = 80), with no significant differences between groups. Virtual education participants decreased their self-efficacy post-intervention(p < 0.001); in contrast, participants of the in-person education increased their exercise self-efficacy (p < 0.001). Overall,31% of virtual and 71% of in-person education participants reported being satisfied with the education delivery format.Conclusions: A virtual group-based education curriculum was effective at improving knowledge and changing behaviour. Similar results were observed in those that received in-person education. Tailoring virtual education interventions to support exercise self-efficacy is warranted. Practice implication: This study strengthens the evidence supporting virtual education in CR.