Blended Cardiac Rehabilitation Training for Cardiology Residents

NCT07755878 | Active Not Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 2026-0911
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 98
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This randomized controlled trial compares supervised hospital-based practice with matched online activities as part of a common cardiac rehabilitation curriculum for cardiology residents. Ninety-eight residents will be allocated 1:1 to a blended group or an online control group. Both groups will receive the same seven-module online curriculum and the same total scheduled learning time. The blended group will complete a matched block of in-person practice in the cardiology ward, outpatient clinic, and cardiopulmonary exercise testing laboratory, whereas the control group will complete matched-duration supplementary online activities. The primary outcome is the post-training 25-item cardiac rehabilitation knowledge score adjusted for the baseline score. Key secondary outcomes are Mini-CEX and procedure-specific DOPS scores assessed by assessors blinded to allocation.

Conditions

Medical Education; Cardiac Rehabilitation

Keywords

Cardiology residency; Blended learning; Case-based learning; Mini-CEX; DOPS; Cardiopulmonary exercise testing

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Post-training cardiac rehabilitation knowledge score adjusted for baseline

  A fixed 25-item multiple-choice examination assesses cardiac rehabilitation fundamentals, phase I rehabilitation, phase II rehabilitation, CPET, exercise prescription, and case-based application. Each correct answer is worth 4 points; total scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater knowledge. The primary estimand is the adjusted between-group difference in the post-training total score from ANCOVA with the baseline total score as a covariate.

  Immediately after completion of the 7-week course

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercise total score

  Within 7 days after completion of the 7-week course

• Procedure-specific Direct Observation of Procedural Skills total score

  Within 7 days after completion of the 7-week course

Other Outcomes (4)

• Course experience and satisfaction items

  Immediately after completion of the 7-week course and before release of assessment results

• Perceived training impact items

  Immediately after completion of the 7-week course and before release of assessment results

• Percentage of course modules completed

  Through completion of the 7-week course

Study Arms (2)

Online control group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants complete the common seven-module online cardiac rehabilitation course and matched-duration supplementary online case discussions and structured self-study assignments.

Other: Common online cardiac rehabilitation curriculum; Other: Matched supplementary online learning

Blended learning group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants complete the common seven-module online cardiac rehabilitation course and replace the matched supplementary online block with seven supervised, hospital-based case and practice sessions.

Other: Common online cardiac rehabilitation curriculum; Other: Hospital-based case and practice sessions

Interventions

Common online cardiac rehabilitation curriculum OTHER

A seven-module online course covering cardiac rehabilitation principles, phase I and II rehabilitation, CPET, exercise prescription, the five prescriptions, multidisciplinary care, and acute-event management.

Blended learning group; Online control group

Matched supplementary online learning OTHER

Additional online case discussion and structured self-study assignments covering the same seven modules and matched in scheduled duration to the blended group's in-person sessions.

Online control group

Hospital-based case and practice sessions OTHER

Seven supervised sessions in the cardiology ward, outpatient clinic, and CPET laboratory. Residents practice assessment, risk stratification, CPET interpretation, individualized exercise prescription, patient education, multidisciplinary planning, and simulated acute-event management with immediate instructor feedback.

Blended learning group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Resident physician currently participating in standardized residency training
• Undertaking a rotation in the Department of Cardiology
• Available to attend the cardiac rehabilitation course and study assessments
• Provides written informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• Prior systematic cardiac rehabilitation training
• Extensive clinical experience in a dedicated cardiac rehabilitation program
• Unable to attend the course at the time eligibility is assessed
• Declines participation

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, School of Medicine: lead

Study Sites (1)

The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine

Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310009, China

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Jia F, Wang M, Lv Q, Li D, Jiang H, Fu G, Zhang W. Application of the BOPPPS-CBL model in emergency chest pain management teaching for resident physicians: a randomized comparison. BMC Med Educ. 2025 Mar 13;25(1):378. doi: 10.1186/s12909-025-06939-9.

  PMID: 40082815 BACKGROUND

Study Officials

• Yaping Wang

  Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, School of Medicine

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: Residents and instructors cannot be blinded to the educational delivery mode. The two Mini-CEX and DOPS examiners do not participate in teaching and are blinded to group allocation.
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: Residents are randomized 1:1 to an online control group or a blended learning group. Both groups receive the same online curriculum and matched total scheduled learning time; the matched supplementary block is delivered online in the control group and as supervised hospital-based practice in the blended group.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 30, 2026
• First Posted: August 10, 2026
• Study Start: March 3, 2025
• Primary Completion: August 1, 2026
• Study Completion: August 1, 2026
• Last Updated: August 10, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

CN (1)