Excerpt
This study included 50 patients who were admitted to the hospital for a CVD-related diagnosis. Patients who could not understand English, were not cognitively intact, or had cardiac transplantation or a ventricular assist device placement were excluded. This prospective descriptive study used a sample of convenience recruited from a regional medical center. Patient background and medical information was obtained through chart review and interview. Patients completed a 10-question exercise knowledge test and self-report assessments including the Barnason Cardiac Efficacy Scale, Self-efficacy for Exercise Behavior Scale, and Self-motivation Scale for Compliance. In addition, the Telephone Interview of Cognitive Function was used to characterize cognitive function. Data analysis consisted of descriptive statistics and correlations (P < .05).
Scores on the exercise knowledge test were correlated with scores on the Self-efficacy for Exercise Behavior Scale (r=0.44 and 0.33), Self-motivation Scale for Compliance (r=0.29), and Telephone Interview of Cognitive Function (r=0.28) but not with scores on the Barnason Cardiac Efficacy Scale or age. Fewer than 18% of subjects correctly answered questions regarding recommended exercise mode, intensity, or frequency, but 84% of subjects correctly answered the question regarding recommended exercise duration.
Results suggest that patients with CVD who understand exercise guidelines have greater self-efficacy and motivation for adopting and maintaining exercise behaviors. Exercise knowledge was also directly related to cognitive function but not to age or cardiac symptom self-efficacy. In addition, it appears that most patients do not understand the exercise parameters recommended for secondary prevention of CVD.