Virtual coaching and peer support to stay active after cardiac rehab

Supportive Training After Cardiac Rehabilitation Including Virtual Engagement: The STRIVE Study

NIH-funded research University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11128660

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 typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of California, San Francisco NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (San Francisco, United States)
Project IDNIH-11128660 on NIH RePORTER

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.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: 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.

Not a fit: 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.

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 performed: 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

San Francisco, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.