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Understanding physical activity and exercise behaviors in patients with heart failure
Nancy M Albert1, Jennifer Forney2, Ellen Slifcak2
1Office of Research and Innovation, Nursing Institute, Cleveland Clinic Health System, Cleveland, OH, USA; George M. and Linda H. Kaufman Center for Heart Failure, Heart and Vascular Institute, Cleveland Clinic Main Campus, Cleveland, OH, USA.
Objective:
Explore perceptions of physical activity/exercise in patients with chronic heart failure (HF).
Background:
Although activity/exercise are HF self-care expectations, perceptions of patients are not well understood.
Methods:
Ambulatory adults with HF were interviewed. Data were transcribed, categorized, and themes were developed.
Results:
Of 48 participants, mean age was 58.8 ± 13.2 years. Themes that emerged were: patients not knowing and physicians not telling; scared into doing or not doing it; life gets in the way; meaningful support versus meaningless talk; emotional connections to exercise; value does not equal motivation to move; and disconnection between self-confidence and actions. Self-confidence in and value of physical activity/exercise were not primary motivators to action. Generally, physicians failed to provide details regarding exercise dose, length, warm-up and cool-down expectations, and usual and adverse effects.
Conclusions:
Patient perceptions of what physical activity/exercise means are multi-dimensional; and fears, emotions, priority and participatory social support contribute to adherence.
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