Financial Incentives for Healthy Living for Patients With Cardiac Disease From the Perspective of Health Care Professionals: Interview Study

Background A promising new approach to support lifestyle changes in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the use of financial incentives. Although incentives have proven be effective, their implementation remains controversial, and ethical objections been raised. It unknown whether health care professionals (HCPs) involved CVD find it acceptable provide as for change. Objective This study aims investigate HCPs’ perspectives on using healthy living CVD. More specifically, we aim insight into attitudes toward well obstacles facilitators implementing current care. Methods total 16 semistructured, in-depth, face-to-face interviews were conducted Dutch HCPs supporting changes. The topics discussed an incentive system, possible solutions facilitate system. Results perceived system possibly effective showed generally high acceptance. However, there concerns related focusing too much extrinsic aspects change, disengagement when rewards are insignificant, paternalization threatening autonomy, low digital literacy target group. According HCPs, mitigate these included emphasizing intrinsic while giving rewards, integrating social increase engagement, autonomy by allowing freedom choice aiming a group that can work necessary technology. Conclusions mapped predominantly positive, provided contextual factors, design, groups accurately considered. Concerns about novel findings warrant further investigation. Follow-up research needed validate insights among