WomenFocused Education in CArdiac REhabilitation (WECARE) Pilot RCT (NCT07550036) | Clinical Trial Compass
Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable
WomenFocused Education in CArdiac REhabilitation (WECARE) Pilot RCT
50 participantsStarted 2026-09-01
Plain-language summary
The goal of this pilot clinical trial is to learn if a women-focused education program can improve knowledge, health, and well-being in women with heart disease who are attending cardiac rehabilitation. It will also help researchers understand if this program can be delivered successfully in different rehabilitation programs.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
* Is it feasible to deliver this women-focused education program within routine cardiac rehabilitation programs?
* Do women who receive this program show improvements in heart health knowledge, quality of life, and healthy behaviours?
Researchers will compare women who receive the Cardiac College for Women program plus usual cardiac rehabilitation to those who receive usual cardiac rehabilitation alone to see if the program leads to better outcomes.
Participants will:
* Be randomly assigned to receive either the women-focused education program or usual care
* Attend cardiac rehabilitation as part of their regular care
* Complete questionnaires at the start and end of the program
* (If in the intervention group) attend online education sessions and use supporting materials
* (Optional) take part in a group discussion about their experience after completing the program
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years
Sex
FEMALE
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Identify as a woman
* Aged 18 years or older
* Enrolled in a participating cardiac rehabilitation program
* Diagnosis consistent with cardiac rehabilitation eligibility (e.g., coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, revascularization procedures, spontaneous coronary artery dissection, myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries, Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, or heart failure)
* Able to provide informed consent
* Able to participate in educational sessions in English or French (site-dependent)
Exclusion Criteria:
* Medical, cognitive, or psychiatric conditions that would prevent participation in educational sessions or completion of study questionnaires
* Inability to access or use online educational sessions or digital materials required for the intervention
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Feasibility of delivering a women-focused education program within cardiac rehabilitation
Timeframe: Baseline to end of cardiac rehabilitation (approximately 12-16 weeks)