Using a mHealth Intervention to Promote Physical Activity in Phase III Cardiac Rehabilitation Clients

In this study, the investigators will implement a pilot project of using activity tracker (i.e., Fitbit) with phase III CR clients. The study will record the clients' daily steps and sleep patterns for 8 consecutive weeks in natural settings. Two specific aims are identified for this project:

• Develop an intervention protocol using mHealth to promote Phase III CR clients' self-monitoring of PA.
• Examine the efficacy of the intervention on clients' PA, sleep patterns, functional capacity and QoL.

Inclusion criteria

• currently receiving Phase III CR at Hope Clinic
• are 18 years of age or older
• can read and communicate in English
• able to follow instructions to walk
• provided signed informed consent
• willing to wear Fitbit throughout the study
• owns a smartphone with text messaging capability (participants need to decide ahead of time if they have a phone plan that is compatible with taking additional text messages without undue financial burden for themselves)
• willing to receive text messages and phone calls from the research team.

Exclusion criteria

• are pregnant or lactating
• have scheduled surgery or traveling within the next 8 weeks
• currently participating in other health promotion program
• sufficiently or overly active, as determined by a physical activity monitor worn for one week, indicating averaging ≥ 7,500 steps per day ("somewhat overly active").