Virtual coaching and peer support to stay active after cardiac rehab
Official title: Supportive Training After Cardiac Rehabilitation Including Virtual Engagement: The STRIVE Study
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11128660 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project offers virtual coaching and small-group peer support to help people 60 and older keep up physical activity after finishing cardiac rehabilitation.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $737,378 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL171287-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11128660 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults aged 60 or older who have completed cardiac rehabilitation after a heart event and can use a smartphone or wearable activity tracker and join virtual small-group sessions.
✕Less likely to help
People under 60, those unable to participate in virtual sessions or wear activity trackers, or those with severe mobility limitations may not gain benefit from this intervention.
What this research studies
You would join a six-month program run as a randomized trial where one group receives virtual coaching (education, personalized feedback, and motivation) plus social networking in groups of 4–6 while a comparison group receives usual care. Activity will be tracked with wearable step counts and the team will measure mood, social confidence, and clinical health markers. The study enrolls adults aged 60 and older who are leaving cardiac rehab and includes participants from urban and rural areas. Researchers will also study which parts of the program lead to improvements so the support can be refined for people like you.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this program could help older adults maintain regular exercise after cardiac rehab, lowering the chance of repeat heart problems and improving quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Prior coaching and peer-support programs have shown promise for keeping people active after cardiac rehab, but large randomized trials of virtual coaching in older adults are still limited.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Park, Linda Grace — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Park, Linda Grace
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.