A meta-synthesis of qualitative studies on cardiovascular disease patients
experiences using digital health tools
#MMPMID41346736
Shao Y
; Hou X
; Peng Q
; Hu M
; Li C
Front Public Health
2025[]; 13
(?): 1709562
PMID41346736
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OBJECTIVES: This review aims to provide deeper insights into the patient
experience by synthesizing qualitative findings from studies on DHTs used in CVD
care. Specifically, it seeks to answer the question: What are the key barriers,
facilitators, and trends in the use of digital interventions for CVD
rehabilitation and self-management? Unlike traditional quantitative reviews, this
study focuses on understanding the human factors, personal narratives, and
contextual influences that shape the uptake and impact of DHTs in this area.
METHODS: A qualitative meta-synthesis was conducted on articles from the
following major electronic databases: PubMed, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Web of
Science, Embase, PsycINFO, and Chinese databases, including Chinese National
Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Database (CECDB), VIP Database, and
China Biomedical Database (CBM). Studies published between 2020 and 2025 were
included, and a systematic search was conducted using predefined keywords. Papers
were selected based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The synthesis
employed the aggregative integration approach from the meta-synthesis method
proposed by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Evidence-based Healthcare Center in
Australia. The extracted qualitative data were compared and analyzed in-depth.
RESULTS: A total of 21 studies were included; 92 findings were extracted,
organized into 13 categories, and consolidated into five synthesized findings:
positive effects of DHTs; barriers to adoption and sustained use of DHTs;
optimization needs and design priorities for DHTs; and culture- and
disease-specific needs. CONCLUSION: Cardiovascular DHTs should be grounded in
patients' individualized needs and operationalized through age-friendly
technological innovations, integration of professional support, and culturally
sensitive design. Leveraging multiple pathways and modalities to strengthen the
family-hospital-community support system will improve the acceptability of DHTs
among people with cardiovascular disease. What this review uniquely adds is the
patient-reported affective/relational value (e.g., feeling "continuously
accompanied," increased reassurance and trust through human-in-the-loop
supervision) and the contextual value of digital health (age-friendly, culturally
and disease-specific tailoring integrated with family/clinician support).
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