Correlates of physical activity change in patients not attending cardiac rehabilitation

Limited research has identified theoretical correlates of physical activity (PA) change in patients not receiving cardiac rehabilitation. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether changes in self-efficacy, PA intention, perceived severity and susceptibility, and PA benefits/barriers were associated with changes in PA over a 12-month period in these patients.

Patients (N = 555) not attending cardiac rehabilitation completed a psychosocial questionnaire in hospital and 6 and 12 months after hospitalization for a cardiac event.

Hierarchical regression analyses showed that the increase in PA from baseline to 6 months was significantly related to an increase in self-efficacy and PA intentions and a decrease in the impact of health-related barriers. Furthermore, the decrease in PA from 6 to 12 months was significantly related to a decrease in health-related benefits and PA intentions and an increase in time and health-related barriers. Finally, the increase in PA from baseline to 12 months was significantly related to an increase in health-related benefits and intentions and a decrease in health-related barriers.

Changes in PA levels over a 12-month period were associated with changes in various theoretical variables. Interestingly, the associations among these variables with PA varied as a function of time after hospitalization.