Lay summary
Cardiac rehabilitation leads to better health-related outcomes for people with cardiovascular disease. However attendance at such programmes are low due to many barriers, including distance. Māori and other indigenous populations are known to be disproportionately impacted by the burden of cardiovascular disease. Ensuring that cardiac rehabilitation programmes are designed to meet the needs of disproportionately burdened populations, and are accessible to those living rurally, may increase engagement with cardiac rehabilitation for these populations. The aim of this project is to review the literature for the preferences of people living rurally, and Māori and other indigenous populations for the design and delivery of home and community based cardiac rehabilitation. A scoping review of cardiac rehabilitation guidelines from several countries impacted by colonisation will also be undertaken to explore if and how these guidelines strive for equity for rural and indigenous populations through recommendations for the design and delivery of cardiac rehabilitation.