This is a two-site randomized controlled trial taking place at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, MA and The Miriam Hospital in Providence, RI. Seventy (n=70) physically inactive ACS survivors will be randomized to either a 6-month group tai chi program (remotely-delivered classes on Zoom) integrated with a wearable self-monitoring/feedback device plus enhanced usual care (EUC), or to EUC alone. EUC will include usual care provided by participants' providers integrated with printed CHD risk factor education materials. Assessments will be conducted in-person at baseline, 6 months (end of treatment), and 9 months. Our primary outcomes will be focused on study feasibility and acceptability. Secondary outcomes include the following patient-centered outcomes: objectively measured (via accelerometry) moderate-vigorous physical activity, light physical activity, sedentary time, cognitive-behavioral constructs (exercise self-efficacy, intrinsic motivation, depression, stress, HRQL), and cardiometabolic measures (exercise capacity, body weight, lipid profile, blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose).
This projects studies the role of tai chi exercise and wearable fitness trackers to promote physical activity in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) survivors.