Exploring the Rehabilitation Needs of Patients with Coronary Artery Diseases: An Effort to Design A Contextual Home-based Cardiac Rehabilitation through A Qualitative Enquiry

Background Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) continue to be a major global public health concern, accounting for a considerable portion of the burden of morbidity and mortality. The CAD in Pakistan imposes a substantial economic and social burden on individuals, families, and the healthcare system. Despite advances in medical interventions and therapies, comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation programs in Pakistan remain underdeveloped and inaccessible to many patients, particularly those residing in rural or underserved areas. Aim This study aims to explore the needs of Pakistani patients with heart disease in helping to design contextual home-based cardiac rehabilitation. Methods Based on the data saturation, 20 individuals were interviewed using a qualitative descriptive exploratory approach. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews that lasted 40 to 50 minutes were used to gather the data. NVIVO software was used to conduct a thematic analysis of qualitative data. Results The qualitative data obtained from participants revealed five themes: Understanding heart disease, Cardiac anxiety, Challenges faced by patients, Difficulties in behavior change, and Patient readiness for home-based cardiac rehabilitation. Conclusion The findings uncover the importance of tailored interventions that address patients' preferences for guidance, support, and lifestyle modification.