Despite advances in communication technologies, it remains a challenge for all clinicians to keep up with professional trends and issues. Most healthcare professionals report having less than 1 hour per week to read scientific and professional literature. With these time constraints, it is imperative that communication from the Canadian Association of Cardiac Rehabilitation (CACR), whether it is for the purposes of educating, sharing information, or soliciting feedback, be conducted in a timely, directed, and highly readable format. The CACR sees the newsletter as a vital communication vehicle complementing the CACR Web site, to keep members up-to-date on CACR activities and initiatives, to provide a forum for sharing knowledge and expertise among members and other cardiac rehabilitation professionals, and to present focused and in-depth reviews of topics relevant to the cardiac rehabilitation clinician, researcher, or student.
The CACR newsletter, NEWSBEAT, is published three times per year under the direction of an editorial team consisting of Louise Morrin as editor, and Tiffany Blair, Sophia Papadakis, and Gabriele Scully as associate editors. From its initial inception more than 10 years ago, the newsletter has evolved from a publication focused primarily on "association news" to a comprehensive education resource, while still maintaining a basic objective of communicating association-related information.
For the past 3 years, the editors have taken a themed approach to each issue, selecting a specific topic of relevance to cardiac rehabilitation specialists and including four to five feature articles around this theme. This allows each topic to be reviewed in depth, and provides coverage on many aspects, often from multidisciplinary viewpoints. Themes of past issues have included depression in cardiac patients, alternative delivery models for cardiac rehabilitation, cardiac rehabilitation in the elderly, outcome assessment in cardiac rehabilitation, atrial fibrillation, and adoption and maintenance of behavior change. Upcoming themes will include heart failure and endothelial dysfunction.
In addition to the feature articles, regularly appearing sections also relate to the theme. Each issue contains a Program Profile that describes the unique aspects of a Canadian cardiac rehabilitation program and how it addresses the clinical or administrative aspects of the selected topic. For example, a description of how a program provided adapted services to its elderly population and the outcomes achieved in that population appeared in the issue focused on cardiac rehabilitation in the elderly. A Guidelines Implementation feature has included case studies, in which the theme is applied to a clinical case and the use of the new Canadian Guidelines in the management of this case is highlighted. A Research in Progress feature outlines an ongoing study or recently completed study, also related to the theme. These regular features are rounded out by a comprehensive review of select references linked to the theme.
The need to inform the membership of association initiatives and activities continues to be a communication goal of NEWSBEAT. President's reports, introduction of new Board of Directors members, membership updates, highlights of fundraising events, and extensive conference information all are examples of this more news-oriented information.
Because any communication requires a sender and a receiver, it is vital to the CACR to know whether the information is being received in a format that is convenient, informative, and understandable. It is truly gratifying when members take the time to contact the editors or the National Office by e-mail, telephone, or letters to the editor to provide feedback on the newsletter, Web site, or other office communications. In a recent membership survey, completed by 87 attendees at the 2002 annual CACR symposium, 83% identified the newsletter as an important or very important benefit to CACR membership. Of the respondents, 53% identified the primary benefit of being a CACR member as information sharing, continuing education, and access to up-to-date information on cardiac rehabilitation, all functions served by the newsletter. Many specifically identified the newsletter as a primary benefit.
The newsletter is available to members only. To become a member, contact the National Office at telephone number 204-488-5854, or visit our Web site at http://www.cacr.ca. Key articles are also posted on our Web site, which will soon be available on the Members Only page.