Glob Cardiol Sci Pract. 2026 Jun 30;2026(3):e202627. doi: 10.21542/gcsp.2026.27. eCollection 2026 Jun 30.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of cardiovascular mortality worldwide, with the greatest burden concentrated in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Patient readiness-encompassing knowledge, self-efficacy, and self-care behaviour-is a critical determinant of post-discharge outcomes. Digital education interventions offer an innovative, resource-efficient approach to improving CHD patient readiness in LMICs; however, the available evidence has not been systematically mapped. Methods: This scoping review followed the Arksey and O'Malley framework and was reported in accordance with the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). A systematic search was conducted across four databases-PubMed, ScienceDirect, Wiley Online Library, and the Cochrane Library-for publications from 2019 to 2026. The most recent searches were run on 1 March 2026 and supplemented by manual screening of reference lists. Results: Eleven studies were included, comprising 7 full RCTs (63.6%), 1 pilot RCT (9.1%), 2 RCT protocols (18.2%), and 1 feasibility study (9.1%). Geographic distribution included China (n = 4; 36.4%), Iran (n = 4; 36.4%), Colombia (n = 1; 9.1%), Tunisia (n = 1; 9.1%), and Brazil (n = 1; 9.1%). The most frequently used primary delivery platforms were mobile applications/smartphones (n = 3; 27.3%), WeChat (n = 2; 18.2%), WhatsApp (n = 2; 18.2%), Web-based/online platforms (n = 2; 18.2%), augmented reality (n = 1; 9.1%), and digital multimedia (n = 1; 9.1%). The most commonly measured outcomes were self-efficacy (n = 4; 36.4%), quality of life (n = 3; 27.3%), disease knowledge/illness perception (n = 3; 27.3%), medication adherence/self-management (n = 3; 27.3%), and clinical events (n = 1; 9.1%). Discharge readiness was not measured as a primary outcome in any included study. Conclusion: Digital education interventions show promising potential for improving the components of CHD patient readiness in LMICs; however, the evidence remains concentrated in China and Iran. Research specifically targeting discharge readiness with validated instruments is urgently needed across diverse LMIC settings, particularly in Southeast Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America.
PMID:42555482 | PMC:PMC13429173 | DOI:10.21542/gcsp.2026.27