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Updated: May 31, 2026

A Novel Digital Platform for a Monitored Home-based Cardiac Rehabilitation Program
Published on: April 19, 2019
Knowledge, attitudes and practices towards cardiac rehabilitation among patients with heart failure
Fang Wei1, Runze Huang1, Wei Li2
1Department of cardiovascular medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550001, China.
Insights
Patients with heart failure show moderate knowledge and positive attitudes towards cardiac rehabilitation, but practice is not directly correlated with knowledge. Attitudes mediate the relationship between knowledge and practice, highlighting the need to address both factors for improved CR participation.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Public Health
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is crucial for patients with heart failure (HF).
- Understanding patients' knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding CR is essential for effective intervention.
- This study investigates KAP among HF patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to cardiac rehabilitation (CR) among patients with heart failure (HF).
- To explore the associations among KAP components using structural equation modeling (SEM).
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 589 patients with HF.
- Data collected via a self-designed questionnaire assessing demographic information and KAP scores.
- Structural equation modeling (SEM) used to analyze relationships between KAP components.
Main Results:
- Mean scores: Knowledge (6.48±2.50), Attitude (29.36±4.50), Practice (28.18±7.35).
- Knowledge positively impacted attitude (β=0.87) and negatively impacted practice (β=-1.06).
- Attitude positively impacted practice (β=0.78), and knowledge indirectly impacted practice through attitude (β=0.68).
Conclusions:
- HF patients exhibit moderate knowledge, positive attitudes, and active practices in CR.
- Attitudes mediate the relationship between knowledge and practice, indicating a non-linear association.
- Interventions should enhance CR knowledge and address attitudinal factors influencing practice translation.
Background:
This study aimed to examine the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to cardiac rehabilitation (CR) among patients with heart failure (HF).
Methods:
A cross-sectional study was conducted among 589 patients with HF at the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University from August 31, 2025 to November 18, 2025. Demographic information and KAP scores were obtained using a self-designed questionnaire. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was applied to assess the associations among the KAP components.
Results:
A total of 589 valid questionnaires were included in the analysis, yielding an effective response rate of 88.57%. Of the participants, 306 (51.95%) were male, and the mean age was 49.89 ± 14.30 years. The mean scores for knowledge, attitude, and practice were 6.48 ± 2.50 (range: 0-11), 29.36 ± 4.50 (range: 8-40), and 28.18 ± 7.35 (range: 8-40), respectively. SEM analysis indicated that knowledge had a direct positive effect on attitude (β = 0.87, P < 0.001) and a direct negative effect on practice (β = -1.06, P < 0.001), whereas attitude showed a direct positive effect on practice (β = 0.78, P < 0.001). Moreover, knowledge exerted a positive indirect effect on practice through attitude (β = 0.68, P = 0.001).
Conclusion:
Patients with HF demonstrated moderate knowledge levels, generally positive attitudes, and relatively active practices regarding cardiac rehabilitation. The findings indicate that the association between knowledge and practice is not linear, with attitudes serving as an important mediating factor. These results suggest that efforts to enhance participation in cardiac rehabilitation should focus not only on improving patient knowledge but also on addressing attitudinal and contextual influences that affect the translation of knowledge into practice.
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