Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and its Association With Self-efficacy, Depressive Symptoms, and Physical Activity : Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial in Patients With Cardiovascular Disease

• Background: In patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD), knowledge about the associations among changes in depressivesymptoms, self-efficacy, and self-care activities has been requested. This is because such knowledge can be helpful in the designof behavioral interventions aimed to improve self-efficacy, reduce depressive symptoms, and improve performance of self-careactivities in CVD patients.Objective: We aim to evaluate if internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) improves self-efficacy and explore therelationships among changes in depressive symptoms, self-efficacy, and physical activity, as well as the influence of iCBT onthese relationships.Methods: This study received funding in January 2015. Participant recruitment took place between January 2017 and February2018, and the main findings were published in 2019. This study is a secondary analysis of data collected in a randomized controlledstudy evaluating the effects of a 9-week iCBT program compared to an online discussion forum (ODF) on depressive symptomsin patients with CVD (N=144). Data were collected at baseline and at the 9-week follow-up. Analysis of covariance was used toevaluate the differences in self-efficacy between the iCBT and ODF groups. Structural equation modeling explored the relationshipsamong changes in depressive symptoms, self-efficacy, and physical activity, as well as the influence of iCBT on these relationships.Results: At follow-up, a significant difference in the increase in self-efficacy favoring iCBT was found (P=.04, Cohen d=0.27).We found an indirect association between changes in depressive symptoms and physical activity (ß=–.24, P<.01), with the changein self-efficacy acting as a mediator. iCBT had a direct effect on the changes in depressive symptoms, which in turn influencedthe changes in self-efficacy (ß=.23, P<.001) and physical activity (ß=.12, P<.001).Conclusions: Self-efficacy was improved by iCBT. However, the influence of iCBT on self-efficacy and physical activity wasmostly mediated by improvements in depressive symptoms.Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02778074; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02778074

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Omvårdnad (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Nursing (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy; cardiovascular disease; depression; self-efficacy; physical activity; mental health; depression; digital health; online health; digital therapy; cognition; self-care; CVD; internet-based; cardiology; heart disease; cardiac health; cognitive behavioral therapy

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