Exercise Intention and its Associated Factors Among Persons Post-Stroke: A Cross-Sectional Study

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Stroke survivors often face challenges in maintaining physical activity post-discharge.
• Understanding factors influencing exercise intention is crucial for effective rehabilitation strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate exercise intention levels in post-stroke individuals.
• To identify factors associated with exercise intention using the Theory of Planned Behavior.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study with 333 post-stroke participants in China.
• Self-administered instrument based on the Theory of Planned Behavior.

Main Results:

• Only 38.4% of participants demonstrated exercise intention post-discharge.
• Key predictors included monthly income, living situation, subjective norms, attitude, and perceived behavioral control.
• Perceived behavioral control and living situation were the most influential factors.

Conclusions:

• Exercise intention is notably low among post-stroke individuals.
• Enhancing perceived behavioral control and addressing living situation factors are vital.
• Healthcare professionals should provide comprehensive guidance to patients and families to foster exercise intention.