Cultural factors facilitating cardiac rehabilitation participation among Canadian South Asians: A qualitative study

Purpose: South Asians experience high rates of cardiovascular disease yet participate in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) at low rates. Drawing on the PRECEDE model, the purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to identify the cultural factors facilitating South Asians' participation in CR programs.
Methods: Two semi-structured interviews were conducted with each of 16 Canadian South Asian participants enrolled in a 12-month CR program. Transcribed data was analyzed for common themes and categorized in terms of predisposing, enabling, and reinforcing factors.
Results: Primary cultural facilitators included CR being described as a “medically-supervised” program, family and physician support, and having prior knowledge of CR from members of the South Asian community. Conclusion: Previous research has identified barriers to CR participation in the South Asian community, and this is the first to identify facilitators. Cultural factors identified as facilitating participation should be considered when developing future initiatives to engage this population group in CR.