PhD defence Hannah Christine McGowan

Keywords: CVD secondary prevention, Physical activity, Digital health, Health promotion

"Determinants Of Physical Activity In Cardiovascular Disease Secondary Prevention And The Potential For Digital Health Interventions"

This thesis tackled the problem of low physical activity engagement among individuals with heart disease or heart conditions. The aim of this thesis was to provide recommendations on how to improve interventions for promoting physical activity in this population. Secondly, this thesis investigated the potential for digital health interventions, such as smartphones, apps, wearables to support in the management and prevention of disease progression in this population. To do so, this thesis included four scientific articles. Two are large systematic reviews providing a global perspective on (1) the influencing factors (determinants) that relate to physical activity engagement in this population and (2) health care provider perspectives on the use of digital heath tools in cardiovascular disease care. Then, two more articles focused specifically on the Austrian context that discusses findings of questionnaires sent to heart patients regarding (1) their motivation and preferences for physical activity engagement and (2) their use and perceptions of digital health tools for their care. Together, these articles provide recommendations into how cardiovascular disease patients can be supported in physical activity in the long-term, even after short-term rehabilitation, and how digital health tools could play a role in this.

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