THE University of Canberra (UC) will receive funding of $510,070 towards a study to help increase physical activity in cardiac rehabilitation patients.

The study trial – called “Measure It!” – came about through collaboration between UC, Queensland University of Technology, the Australian National University (ANU), the University of Sydney and Monash University, with the funding given under the 2021 Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) Cardiovascular Health Mission scheme.

Lead researcher Associate Professor Dr Nicole Freene says that only 15 per cent of those attending cardiac rehabilitation achieve the recommended physical activity levels, but a pilot study found that if physical activity was regularly measured by a health professional, that number increased.

“Having sufficient time to do this and promote physical activity has always been the major stumbling block for clinicians,” she says.

The “Measure It!” intervention was developed to take less than five minutes per patient.

“Measure It!” combines self-reporting with data recorded by a wearable activity tracker, followed by brief advice on how to increase physical activity.

“That self-reporting aspect empowers the patient, but also makes them consider what kind of physical activity they incorporate into their lives,” says Prof Freene.

“‘Measure It!’ has the potential to drive changes in the way cardiac rehabilitation is delivered, in a way that is both time and cost effective.”

The study will run over 24 weeks, with 190 participants from five cardiac rehabilitation programs in the ACT and NSW.