Dr Sandy Mandic did Cardiac Rehabilitation research at the University of Otago between 2009 and 2017 as part of her early academic work. Sandy and the Cardiac Rehabilitation Research Team from Dunedin Hospital were very grateful for the time and support that The Otago Phoenix Club members contributed to those research projects.

Exercise tolerance declines with aging, partially due to presence of disease and decreased everyday physical activity. Reduced ability to perform everyday activities may also influence how people feel about life in general. These changes may be less evident in active individuals. Sandy’s research examined physical function, heart health and quality of life in individuals participating in community cardiac rehabilitation programs.

Sandy published several research articles from the cardiac rehabilitation research projects conducted through the Active Living Laboratory (https://agileresearch.nz/active-living) in Dunedin. The list of articles and links to the abstracts are provided below. If you would like to receive a full copy of those articles, please contact Sandy directly.

Sandy’s academic and professional endeavours evolved in the years that followed:

·       Sandy’s subsequent research focused on health and transport in youth. She founded and led the award-winning Built Environment and Active Transport to School (BEATS) Research Programme from 2013 to 2023 (https://agileresearch.nz/beats/).

·       In late 2020, Sandy joined Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences at Auckland University of Technology as Adjunct Professor.

·       In 2021, Sandy’s family moved to Wellington and she joined the Transport Strategy Team at Wellington City Council (and has been working there since).

·       In 2021, Sandy founded the research consultancy AGILE Research Ltd. (https://agileresearch.nz/) and has been publishing books linking academic research and project management (if interested, check out Compass Guide Research Training resources: https://agileresearch.nz/compass-guide-research-training/)

For any further information about Cardiac Rehabilitation research in Dunedin conducted in 2009-2017, feel free to contact Sandy directly:

Sandy Mandic, PhD, PMP

Founder and Director

AGILE Research Ltd.

Wellington, New Zealand

Web: https://agileresearch.nz

Email: agile.research.nz@gmail.com

Published articles:

1.     Hately G, Mandic S. Physical activity, physical function and quality of life in community-based maintenance cardiac rehabilitation. Health Education Journal. 2019: 78(5);524-536. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0017896918823821

2.     Mandic S, Stevens E, Hodge C, Brown C, Walker R, Body D, Barclay L, Nye ER, Williams MJA. Long-term effects of cardiac rehabilitation in elderly individuals with stable coronary artery disease. Disability and Rehabilitation. 2016;38(9):837-843  DOI: https://doi.org/10.3109/09638288.2015.1061611

3.     Horwood H, Williams MJA, Mandic S. Examining motivations and barriers for attending maintenance community-based cardiac rehabilitation using the Health-Belief Model. Heart, Lung and Circulation. 2015 Oct;24(10):980-7 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hlc.2015.03.023

4.     Mandic S, Body D, Barclay L, Walker R, Nye ER, Grace SL, Williams MJA. Community-based cardiac rehabilitation maintenance programs: Use and effects. Heart, Lung and Circulation. 2015; 24: 710-718 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.hlc.2015.01.014

5.     Mandic S, Hodge C, Stevens E, Walker R, Nye ER, Body D, Barclay L, Williams MJA. Effects of community-based cardiac rehabilitation on body composition and physical function in individuals with stable coronary artery disease: 1.6-year follow-up. Biomed Research International. 2013; 903604 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/903604

6.     Mandic S, Walker R, Stevens E, Nye ER, Body D, Barclay L, Williams MJA. Estimating exercise capacity from walking tests in elderly individuals with stable coronary artery disease. Disability and Rehabilitation. 2013; 35(22): 1853–1858 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/09638288.2012.759629