Quasi-randomisation and sample size
The assignment of medical record IDs was performed randomly. The allocation of patients was based on the last digit of their medical record numbers (IDs). Patients with even-numbered IDs were allocated to the hospital-based CR group, whereas those with odd-numbered IDs were assigned to the remote CR group. The allocation method was blinded until it was completed. Assignment and enrolment were performed by the authors.The minimum sample size for the pilot study was determined as 12 per group [