Lessons Learned: Clinicians’ perspectives, knowledge, and attitudes towards a stroke-integrated cardiac rehabilitation program.

Abstract

Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is a well-established secondary prevention program for people with cardiovascular disease, including people with heart disease and stroke.1 Yet people with stroke are rarely referred to CR.2 Understanding the lived experiences of healthcare professionals involved in a stroke-integrated CR research program may aid the uptake and translation of stroke-integrated CR into routine clinical practice. Most clinicians believed stroke-integrated CR was important and had clinical utility. Increased awareness of evidence-based recommendations and the stroke-integrated CR program, and a more flexible and adaptable program may aid uptake and future implementation.