PROCARD – Patient-Reported Outcomes in Cardiology

Led by Professor Tone M. Norekvål, the PROCARD research group at HVL investigates how patients with acute and chronic cardiovascular disease experience their treatment and follow-up across primary and specialist healthcare services. PROCARD uses qualitative and quantitative methods, works with patient-reported data and data from national quality registers, and carries out large national and international studies. The research group also conducts systematic reviews and validates tools for obtaining patient-reported data, contributing to innovation, and enhancing quality in response to current societal challenges in patient follow-up. Members of the research group actively participate in educating candidates at bachelor’s, master’s and PhD levels at HVL. A distinctive feature of PROCARD is its close integration of research, working life and professional development, ensuring that the education of highly competent clinicians aligns closely with the needs of the working environment and advances alongside high-quality international research.

Established in 2009, PROCARD focuses its research on the following main areas:

1. Quality of life, self-reported physical and psychological health, health literacy, frailty, sleep, and delirium
2. Adherence to lifestyle and treatment advice
3. Satisfaction with the use of, and interaction between healthcare services
4. Healthcare personnel’s adherence to local and international guidelines

The research group has developed and implemented projects aiming to improve resource utilization and interaction in healthcare services and has evaluated methods to bridge a possible gap between research and clinical practice. CONCARDPCI, BECARES, CARDELIR and TELMON-NOR exemplify some of these efforts.

An example of PROCARD’s impact, robustness and innovative approach to the clinical field and practice is the novel research project eCardiacRehab. The rationale for this project is the need to understand why patients diagnosed with heart disease are unable to follow advice aimed at reducing already known risk factors, as well as to reach their treatment goals for physical activity, smoking cessation, blood pressure regulation and cholesterol levels. This led to the development of a digital and innovative cardiac rehabilitation program and a subsequent intervention study. The project was awarded NOK 16 million from the Norwegian Research Council (NFR) in 2023 and has received NOK 5.8 million in research and innovation funds from Helse Vest.

PROCARD also puts HVL on the academic map with publications in recognized national and international journals, presentation of research findings at national and international conferences and contributions to increasing expertise and important knowledge for both academia and the clinical field. The research group is also responsible for advanced education in cardiac nursing at HVL, which is the only educational institution in Norway providing a Master’s degree in clinical nursing with specialization in cardiology.

Research activities

Research group leader