Exercise stage and processes of change in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

This study uses a horizontal investigative method; the purpose of this study was the application of the transtheoretical model to the exercise behavior of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Constructed questionnaires were utilized to interview the subjects; the questionnaires contained personal demographics, stages of exercise, and processes of change. Purposive sampling was conducted at a medical center in Southern Taiwan. Ninety-eight valid questionnaires were collected. Subjects ranged 39-83 years of age (M = 68.1, SD = 10.4). Exercise activities in the sample were divided between pre-contemplation (25.5%), contemplation (2%), preparation (21.4%), action (4.1%), and maintenance (46.9%). Walking proved the most common exercise method. For processes of change, the ranked top was counter-conditioning indicating that COPD patients most frequently sought alternative activities to replace status of no exercise. In terms of interrelations between ten processes and five stages, the precontemplation stage scored manifestly lower on processes of change than any other stage. The findings of this study provide guidance to clinical practitioners in developing stage-matched interventions, promotional strategies with a variety of program planning, and suggestions for research agencies in the future.