The PREBEAT Trial: Digital PREhaBilitation in thE Cardiac Surgical populATion
PREBEAT
2 other identifiers
interventional
80
1 country
1
Brief Summary
The goal of this randomised controlled trial is to learn if a digital prehabilitation program is feasible in patients awaiting cardiac surgery. The main questions it aims to answer are:
- Use a digital health mobile phone application to guide you through exercise, nutrition and preparation for surgery.
- Engage in telehealth consultations.
- Complete questionnaires
- Complete exercise testing
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at P25-P50 for not_applicable cardiovascular-diseases
Started Jul 2025
1 active site
Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.
Trial Relationships
Click on a node to explore related trials.
Study Timeline
Key milestones and dates
First Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
April 30, 2025
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
May 21, 2025
CompletedStudy Start
First participant enrolled
July 1, 2025
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
March 1, 2026
CompletedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
December 1, 2026
ExpectedJune 6, 2025
June 1, 2025
8 months
April 30, 2025
June 3, 2025
Conditions
Keywords
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (4)
Usability of Digital Cardiac Prehabilitation as assessed by the Mhealth Application Usability Questionnaire (MAUQ)
mAUQ is an 18-item questionnaire for patients to evaluate the usability of the digital application under the three domains of; Ease of Use, Interface, Satisfaction and Usefulness. Low numbers indicate a higher perception of usability with the digital interface for participants.
2 days Pre-operatively
Adherence of Digital Cardiac Prehabilitation as measured by usage metrics from Mobile Phone App metrics
Metrics Used include * Time and date: when the application is accessed. * Dwell Time: how much time is spent on a particular page. * Number of pages viewed: how many views per page per day. * User input data: data the user submits in the app, including minutes walked, exercises marked as complete, and questionnaires completed.
2 days Pre-operatively
Acceptability of Digital Cardiac Prehabilitation as measured by Theoretical Framework of Acceptability Questionnaire (TFA)
TFA-Q is composed of eight items, in alignment with the eight acceptability constructs (Affective attitude, Burden, Ethicality, Perceived effectiveness, intervention coherence, self-efficacy, opportunity costs, general acceptability). High numbers indicate a more acceptable digital experience.
2 days Pre-operatively
Incidence of Adverse events
Adverse events, defined as any undesirable event, such as injury, fall, and discomfort related to prehabilitation will be recorded and severity will be reported according to hospital policy. Lower numbers are more favourable, indicating fewer adverse events.
Recorded through study completion, an average of 7 months.
Secondary Outcomes (17)
Health service use as measured by Length of Stay (LOS)
30 days post-operatively
Health service use as measured by Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Length of Stay (ICU LOS)
30 days post-operatively
Health service use as measured by Readmissions
30 days post-operatively
Health service use as measured by the Health Utilization Questionnaire (HUQ)
Post operatively at Time Points: 2 weeks, 30 days, 3 months and 6 months
Mortality as measured by days alive out of hospital (DAoH)
6 months post-operatively
- +12 more secondary outcomes
Study Arms (2)
Control
ACTIVE COMPARATORPatients in this arm receive standard preparation for surgery as per hospital procedure. This may include information sessions, pamphlets, and meetings with clinicians.
Digital Health Arm
EXPERIMENTALPatients in this arm engage in digital health prehabilitation which involves exercise, nutrition and information and scheduled telehealth to assist with preparation for surgery.
Interventions
Digital Cardiac Prehabilitation - A combined telehealth and app-based preparation for cardiac surgery
Standard preparation for surgery as per Melbourne Health hospital procedures and processes. This may include information sessions, pamphlets, and meetings with clinicians. This does not include a prehabilitation program.
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if:
- days+ prior to cardiac surgery
- Able to provide consent,
- Proficient in English to understand questionnaires, training instructions and outcome assessments.
- Digitally literate to independently navigate a smart device and novel application.
You may not qualify if:
- severe or unstable neurological, cardiorespiratory, or musculoskeletal disease or mental illness that might compromise ability to perform exercise,
- unstable psychiatric or cognitive disorders,
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
- Claire Hineslead
- Melbourne Healthcollaborator
Study Sites (1)
Melbourne Health (Royal Melbourne and Melbourne Private Hospital)
Melbourne, Victoria, 3050, Australia
Related Publications (49)
Steinmetz C, Bjarnason-Wehrens B, Walther T, Schaffland TF, Walther C. Efficacy of Prehabilitation Before Cardiac Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2023 Apr 1;102(4):323-330. doi: 10.1097/PHM.0000000000002097. Epub 2022 Sep 23.
PMID: 36149383BACKGROUNDDoyle MP, Indraratna P, Tardo DT, Peeceeyen SC, Peoples GE. Safety and efficacy of aerobic exercise commenced early after cardiac surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Prev Cardiol. 2019 Jan;26(1):36-45. doi: 10.1177/2047487318798924. Epub 2018 Sep 6.
PMID: 30188177BACKGROUNDKehler DS, Stammers AN, Tangri N, Hiebert B, Fransoo R, Schultz ASH, Macdonald K, Giacomontonio N, Hassan A, Legare JF, Arora RC, Duhamel TA. Systematic review of preoperative physical activity and its impact on postcardiac surgical outcomes. BMJ Open. 2017 Aug 11;7(8):e015712. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-015712.
PMID: 28801404BACKGROUNDMagon A, Caruso R, Sironi A, Mirabella S, Dellafiore F, Arrigoni C, Bonavina L. Trajectories of Health-Related Quality of Life, Health Literacy, and Self-Efficacy in Curatively-Treated Patients with Esophageal Cancer: A Longitudinal Single-Center Study in Italy. J Patient Exp. 2021 Nov 29;8:23743735211060769. doi: 10.1177/23743735211060769. eCollection 2021.
PMID: 35252557BACKGROUNDNijkamp MD, Kenens CA, Dijker AJ, Ruiter RA, Hiddema F, Nuijts RM. Determinants of surgery related anxiety in cataract patients. Br J Ophthalmol. 2004 Oct;88(10):1310-4. doi: 10.1136/bjo.2003.037788.
PMID: 15377557BACKGROUNDSchroder H, Fito M, Estruch R, Martinez-Gonzalez MA, Corella D, Salas-Salvado J, Lamuela-Raventos R, Ros E, Salaverria I, Fiol M, Lapetra J, Vinyoles E, Gomez-Gracia E, Lahoz C, Serra-Majem L, Pinto X, Ruiz-Gutierrez V, Covas MI. A short screener is valid for assessing Mediterranean diet adherence among older Spanish men and women. J Nutr. 2011 Jun;141(6):1140-5. doi: 10.3945/jn.110.135566. Epub 2011 Apr 20.
PMID: 21508208BACKGROUNDHulzebos EH, van Meeteren NL, van den Buijs BJ, de Bie RA, Brutel de la Riviere A, Helders PJ. Feasibility of preoperative inspiratory muscle training in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery with a high risk of postoperative pulmonary complications: a randomized controlled pilot study. Clin Rehabil. 2006 Nov;20(11):949-59. doi: 10.1177/0269215506070691.
PMID: 17065538BACKGROUNDBirrer DL, Kuemmerli C, Obwegeser A, Liebi M, von Felten S, Pettersson K, Horisberger K. INSPIRA: study protocol for a randomized-controlled trial about the effect of spirometry-assisted preoperative inspiratory muscle training on postoperative complications in abdominal surgery. Trials. 2022 Jun 7;23(1):473. doi: 10.1186/s13063-022-06254-4.
PMID: 35672861BACKGROUNDBeaujolin, A., Mané, J., Presse, C., Barbosa-Silva, J., Bernini, M., Corbellini, C., & De Abreu, R. M. (2024). Inspiratory Muscle Training Intensity in Patients Living with Cardiovascular Diseases: A Systematic Review. Hearts, 5(1), 75-90.
BACKGROUNDPatsaki I, Kouvarakos A, Vasileiadis I, Koumantakis GA, Ischaki E, Grammatopoulou E, Kotanidou A, Magira EE. Low-Medium and High-Intensity Inspiratory Muscle Training in Critically Ill Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Medicina (Kaunas). 2024 May 26;60(6):869. doi: 10.3390/medicina60060869.
PMID: 38929486BACKGROUNDBissett B, Leditschke IA, Green M, Marzano V, Collins S, Van Haren F. Inspiratory muscle training for intensive care patients: A multidisciplinary practical guide for clinicians. Aust Crit Care. 2019 May;32(3):249-255. doi: 10.1016/j.aucc.2018.06.001. Epub 2018 Jul 11.
PMID: 30007823BACKGROUNDNg DP, Thiviyan P, Shrida S, Ng LWC. Feasibility of Conducting Sit-to-Stand Tests Using Video Consultation. Int J Telemed Appl. 2023 Jul 26;2023:8551680. doi: 10.1155/2023/8551680. eCollection 2023.
PMID: 39280702BACKGROUNDLarrateguy S, Otto-Yanez M, Bogado J, Larrateguy L, Barros-Poblete M, Mazzucco G, Blanco I, Gimeno-Santos E, Torres-Castro R. Agreement and Reliability Between Tele-Assessment and In-Person Assessment of the One-Minute Sit-to-Stand Test in Patients with Chronic Respiratory Diseases. J Clin Med. 2025 Jul 16;14(14):5049. doi: 10.3390/jcm14145049.
PMID: 40725738BACKGROUNDSalling SL, Jensen JH, Mosegaard SB, Sorensen L, Mechlenburg I. Risk stratification for post-operative pulmonary complications following major cardiothoracic or abdominal surgery: Validation of the PPC Risk Prediction Score for physiotherapist's clinical decision-making. Clin Respir J. 2023 Mar;17(3):229-240. doi: 10.1111/crj.13579. Epub 2023 Jan 3.
PMID: 36596755BACKGROUNDSedlmeier AM, Baumeister SE, Weber A, Fischer B, Thorand B, Ittermann T, Dorr M, Felix SB, Volzke H, Peters A, Leitzmann MF. Relation of body fat mass and fat-free mass to total mortality: results from 7 prospective cohort studies. Am J Clin Nutr. 2021 Mar 11;113(3):639-646. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/nqaa339.
PMID: 33437985BACKGROUNDCao Q, Yu S, Xiong W, Li Y, Li H, Li J, Li F. Waist-hip ratio as a predictor of myocardial infarction risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore). 2018 Jul;97(30):e11639. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000011639.
PMID: 30045310BACKGROUNDSturgess, T. R., Denehy, L., Tully, E. A., McManus, M., Katijjahbe, M. A., & El-Ansary, D. (2018). The Functional Difficulties Questionnaire: A New Tool for Assessing Physical Function of the Thoracic Region in a Cardiac Surgery Population. Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy Journal, 29(3), 110-123.
BACKGROUNDKatijjahbe MA, Denehy L, Granger CL, Royse A, Royse C, Logie S, Sturgess T, Md Ali NA, McManus M, Sandy CE, El-Ansary D. Psychometric evaluation of the shortened version of the Functional Difficulties Questionnaire to assess thoracic physical function. Clin Rehabil. 2020 Jan;34(1):132-140. doi: 10.1177/0269215519879476. Epub 2019 Oct 15.
PMID: 31610700BACKGROUNDBowyer AJ, Heiberg J, Sessler DI, Newman S, Royse AG, Royse CF. Validation of the cognitive recovery assessments with the Postoperative Quality of Recovery Scale in patients with low-baseline cognition. Anaesthesia. 2018 Nov;73(11):1382-1391. doi: 10.1111/anae.14402. Epub 2018 Aug 7.
PMID: 30084176BACKGROUNDDiab MS, Bilkhu R, Soppa G, Edsell M, Fletcher N, Heiberg J, Royse C, Jahangiri M. The influence of prolonged intensive care stay on quality of life, recovery, and clinical outcomes following cardiac surgery: A prospective cohort study. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2018 Nov;156(5):1906-1915.e3. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2018.05.076. Epub 2018 Jun 5.
PMID: 30336918BACKGROUNDZhang X, Tan SS, Fierloos I, Zanutto O, Alhambra-Borras T, Vasiljev V, Bennett S, Rentoumis T, Buranello A, Macchione S, Rouwet E, van Grieken A, Raat H. Evaluation design of the Social Engagement Framework for Addressing the Chronic-disease-challenge (SEFAC): a mindfulness-based intervention to promote the self-management of chronic conditions and a healthy lifestyle. BMC Public Health. 2019 May 30;19(1):664. doi: 10.1186/s12889-019-6979-7.
PMID: 31146709BACKGROUNDBosco E, Hsueh L, McConeghy KW, Gravenstein S, Saade E. Major adverse cardiovascular event definitions used in observational analysis of administrative databases: a systematic review. BMC Med Res Methodol. 2021 Nov 6;21(1):241. doi: 10.1186/s12874-021-01440-5.
PMID: 34742250BACKGROUNDMonitoring and Reporting of Safety in Clinical Trials Involving Therapeutic Products and Other Clinical Research Guideline. (2019). Royal Melbourne Hospital: Office for Research.
BACKGROUNDZhou L, Bao J, Setiawan IMA, Saptono A, Parmanto B. The mHealth App Usability Questionnaire (MAUQ): Development and Validation Study. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2019 Apr 11;7(4):e11500. doi: 10.2196/11500.
PMID: 30973342BACKGROUNDLalmas, M., O'Brien, H., & Yom-Tov, E. (2015). Measuring User Engagement. Springer International Publishing
BACKGROUNDJunker M, Dunnebeil S, Bohm M, Krcmar H. Usage of a workplace health promotion app: an evaluation of app usage data and medical check-up results. Health Informatics J. 2023 Jan-Mar;29(1):14604582221148058. doi: 10.1177/14604582221148058.
PMID: 36705467BACKGROUNDBauer AM, Iles-Shih M, Ghomi RH, Rue T, Grover T, Kincler N, Miller M, Katon WJ. Acceptability of mHealth augmentation of Collaborative Care: A mixed methods pilot study. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2018 Mar-Apr;51:22-29. doi: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2017.11.010. Epub 2017 Nov 24.
PMID: 29272712BACKGROUNDSt-Jules DE, Woolf K, Goldfarb DS, Pompeii ML, Li H, Wang C, Mattoo A, Marcum ZA, Sevick MA. Feasibility and Acceptability of mHealth Interventions for Managing Hyperphosphatemia in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis. J Ren Nutr. 2021 Jul;31(4):403-410. doi: 10.1053/j.jrn.2020.07.009. Epub 2020 Nov 5.
PMID: 33160812BACKGROUNDHajesmaeel-Gohari S, Khordastan F, Fatehi F, Samzadeh H, Bahaadinbeigy K. The most used questionnaires for evaluating satisfaction, usability, acceptance, and quality outcomes of mobile health. BMC Med Inform Decis Mak. 2022 Jan 27;22(1):22. doi: 10.1186/s12911-022-01764-2.
PMID: 35081953BACKGROUNDBowen DJ, Kreuter M, Spring B, Cofta-Woerpel L, Linnan L, Weiner D, Bakken S, Kaplan CP, Squiers L, Fabrizio C, Fernandez M. How we design feasibility studies. Am J Prev Med. 2009 May;36(5):452-7. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2009.02.002.
PMID: 19362699BACKGROUNDXue P, Bai AY, Jiang Y, Qiao YL. [WHO global strategy on digital health and its implications to China]. Zhonghua Yu Fang Yi Xue Za Zhi. 2022 Feb 6;56(2):218-221. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.cn112150-20210616-00589. Chinese.
PMID: 35184452BACKGROUNDRivers JT, Smith C, Smith I, Cameron J. The Impact of a Mobile App on Participation in Cardiac Rehabilitation and Understanding Barriers to Success: Comparative Cohort Study. JMIR Cardio. 2022 Jan 17;6(1):e24174. doi: 10.2196/24174.
PMID: 35037891BACKGROUNDWaterland JL, Chahal R, Ismail H, Sinton C, Riedel B, Francis JJ, Denehy L. Implementing a telehealth prehabilitation education session for patients preparing for major cancer surgery. BMC Health Serv Res. 2021 May 10;21(1):443. doi: 10.1186/s12913-021-06437-w.
PMID: 33971869BACKGROUNDHughes M, Coolsen MM, Aahlin EK, Harrison EM, McNally SJ, Dejong CH, Lassen K, Wigmore SJ. Attitudes of patients and care providers to enhanced recovery after surgery programs after major abdominal surgery. J Surg Res. 2015 Jan;193(1):102-10. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2014.06.032. Epub 2014 Jun 23.
PMID: 25066187BACKGROUNDReeve, J., Anderson, L., Raslan, Y., Greeve, C., Ford, J., & Wilson, L. (2019). physiotherapy management of patients undergoing abdominal surgery: A survey of current practice. New Zealand Journal of Physiotherapy, 47(2).
BACKGROUNDPatman S, Bartley A, Ferraz A, Bunting C. Physiotherapy in upper abdominal surgery - what is current practice in Australia? Arch Physiother. 2017 Aug 15;7:11. doi: 10.1186/s40945-017-0039-3. eCollection 2017.
PMID: 29340205BACKGROUNDSamnani SS, Umer MF, Mehdi SH, Farid FN. Impact of Preoperative Counselling on Early Postoperative Mobilization and Its Role in Smooth Recovery. Int Sch Res Notices. 2014 Oct 28;2014:250536. doi: 10.1155/2014/250536. eCollection 2014.
PMID: 27351013BACKGROUNDFagevik Olsen M, Wennberg E, Johnsson E, Josefson K, Lonroth H, Lundell L. Randomized clinical study of the prevention of pulmonary complications after thoracoabdominal resection by two different breathing techniques. Br J Surg. 2002 Oct;89(10):1228-34. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2168.2002.02207.x.
PMID: 12296888BACKGROUNDBoden I, Robertson IK, Neil A, Reeve J, Palmer AJ, Skinner EH, Browning L, Anderson L, Hill C, Story D, Denehy L. Preoperative physiotherapy is cost-effective for preventing pulmonary complications after major abdominal surgery: a health economic analysis of a multicentre randomised trial. J Physiother. 2020 Jul;66(3):180-187. doi: 10.1016/j.jphys.2020.06.005. Epub 2020 Jul 14.
PMID: 32680742BACKGROUNDBoden I, El-Ansary D, Zalucki N, Robertson IK, Browning L, Skinner EH, Denehy L. Physiotherapy education and training prior to upper abdominal surgery is memorable and has high treatment fidelity: a nested mixed-methods randomised-controlled study. Physiotherapy. 2018 Jun;104(2):194-202. doi: 10.1016/j.physio.2017.08.008. Epub 2017 Sep 1.
PMID: 28935227BACKGROUNDRodriguez-Aldrete D, Candiotti KA, Janakiraman R, Rodriguez-Blanco YF. Trends and New Evidence in the Management of Acute and Chronic Post-Thoracotomy Pain-An Overview of the Literature from 2005 to 2015. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2016 Jun;30(3):762-72. doi: 10.1053/j.jvca.2015.07.029. Epub 2015 Jul 29. No abstract available.
PMID: 26597765BACKGROUNDKendall F, Oliveira J, Peleteiro B, Pinho P, Bastos PT. Inspiratory muscle training is effective to reduce postoperative pulmonary complications and length of hospital stay: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Disabil Rehabil. 2018 Apr;40(8):864-882. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2016.1277396. Epub 2017 Jan 17.
PMID: 28093920BACKGROUNDWang YQ, Liu X, Jia Y, Xie J. Impact of breathing exercises in subjects with lung cancer undergoing surgical resection: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Clin Nurs. 2019 Mar;28(5-6):717-732. doi: 10.1111/jocn.14696. Epub 2018 Nov 20.
PMID: 30357997BACKGROUNDShahood H, Pakai A, Kiss R, Eva B, Szilagyi N, Sandor A, Verzar Z. Effectiveness of Preoperative Chest Physiotherapy in Patients Undergoing Elective Cardiac Surgery, a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Medicina (Kaunas). 2022 Jul 8;58(7):911. doi: 10.3390/medicina58070911.
PMID: 35888629BACKGROUNDXu X, Cheung DST, Smith R, Lai AYK, Lin CC. The effectiveness of pre- and post-operative rehabilitation for lung cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis on postoperative pulmonary complications and length of hospital stay. Clin Rehabil. 2022 Feb;36(2):172-189. doi: 10.1177/02692155211043267. Epub 2021 Sep 8.
PMID: 34496658BACKGROUNDClode NJ, Perry MA, Wulff L. Does physiotherapy prehabilitation improve pre-surgical outcomes and influence patient expectations prior to knee and hip joint arthroplasty? Int J Orthop Trauma Nurs. 2018 Aug;30:14-19. doi: 10.1016/j.ijotn.2018.05.004. Epub 2018 Jun 25.
PMID: 29954717BACKGROUNDJahic D, Omerovic D, Tanovic AT, Dzankovic F, Campara MT. The Effect of Prehabilitation on Postoperative Outcome in Patients Following Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty. Med Arch. 2018 Dec;72(6):439-443. doi: 10.5455/medarh.2018.72.439-443.
PMID: 30814777BACKGROUNDAssouline B, Cools E, Schorer R, Kayser B, Elia N, Licker M. Preoperative Exercise Training to Prevent Postoperative Pulmonary Complications in Adults Undergoing Major Surgery. A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis with Trial Sequential Analysis. Ann Am Thorac Soc. 2021 Apr;18(4):678-688. doi: 10.1513/AnnalsATS.202002-183OC.
PMID: 33030962BACKGROUNDMarquina C, Talic S, Vargas-Torres S, Petrova M, Abushanab D, Owen A, Lybrand S, Thomson D, Liew D, Zomer E, Ademi Z. Future burden of cardiovascular disease in Australia: impact on health and economic outcomes between 2020 and 2029. Eur J Prev Cardiol. 2022 May 27;29(8):1212-1219. doi: 10.1093/eurjpc/zwab001.
PMID: 33686414BACKGROUND
MeSH Terms
Conditions
Study Officials
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Alistair Royse, MD - Cardiothoracic Surgeon
Melbourne Health
Central Study Contacts
Deputy Dean, Engagement Health and Biomedical Sciences, PhD
CONTACT
Study Design
- Study Type
- interventional
- Phase
- not applicable
- Allocation
- RANDOMIZED
- Masking
- NONE
- Masking Details
- Surgeons and Hospital Ward Staff
- Purpose
- SUPPORTIVE CARE
- Intervention Model
- PARALLEL
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
- Responsible Party
- SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
- PI Title
- Site Investigator
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
April 30, 2025
First Posted
May 21, 2025
Study Start
July 1, 2025
Primary Completion
March 1, 2026
Study Completion (Estimated)
December 1, 2026
Last Updated
June 6, 2025
Record last verified: 2025-06
Data Sharing
- IPD Sharing
- Will share
- Shared Documents
- STUDY PROTOCOL, ICF
- Time Frame
- By at least Jan 2027, for at least 12 months.
- Access Criteria
- By Journal Article Publication and/or conference posters, proceedings and/or presentations.
De-identified data summary from primary and secondary outcome measures