Digital Heart Manual: making technology accessiblewith a user-friendly resource

The Heart Manual (HM) NHS Lothian, UK’s leading home-based cardiacrehabilitation programme. In collaboration with e-health experts, patients and healthprofessionals an innovative digital version of the original programme was developedand further refined using input and expertise of cardiac rehabilitation patientgraduates and health professionals. Usage was monitored, and usability andaccessibility assessed. Participants fed back over a number of iterations of theresource. The evaluation has highlighted the perceived user-friendliness of the HMdigital format and its effectiveness in delivering the key messages of the programme.It also flagged several areas for further modification of the resource. Our pilot projecthas emphasised the value of employing a user-centred approach when developingand improving web based interventions. Such approach should result in bettermatched interventions which will maximise patients’ engagement and received benefits.