Financial incentives increase patient participation in cardiac rehabilitation programs, according to a clinical trial published July 22 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Researchers from the University of Vermont in Burlington and the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston followed 192 cardiac patients with lower socioeconomic status who were eligible to participate in a cardiac rehabilitation program from December 2018 to December 2022.
Trial participants received one of four care plans: usual care control, case management starting in the hospital, financial incentive to complete cardiac rehabilitation sessions, or financial incentive plus case management.
Of the care plans, financial incentives with case management produced the highest rate of cardiac rehabilitation adherence, measured by the highest number of patients who completed 30 or more sessions of their cardiac rehabilitation program.
Noting that cardiac rehabilitation programs decrease patient morbidity and mortality, the researchers said financial incentives "may be an effective method to improve health outcomes among a vulnerable, underserved population."