title: Program participation and physical activity maintenance after cardiac rehabilitation.
abstract: This study examined exercise maintenance among patients after completing cardiac rehabilitation. Subjects were men and women who had completed a Phase II Cardiac Rehabilitation Program approximately 12 months previously. Subjects were classified according to whether they had (a) never participated in a Phase III program (G-I) (N = 37), (b) enrolled and completed a Phase III program (G-II) (N = 30), or (c) were currently enrolled in a Phase III maintenance program (G-III) (N = 33). Subjects were significantly more likely to be participating in regular exercise if they had participated in a Phase III program (p < .05). Individuals in G-II and G-III engaged in more minutes of physical activity per week and were more likely to meet recommended levels of physical activity compared to G-1 subjects. G-1 individuals who had longer Phase II programs were more likely to maintain their exercise habits following graduation (p < .05). Results suggest that Phase III maintenance programs and longer Phase II participation improved exercise maintenance following rehabilitation.
authors.affiliation: Miriam Hospital, Center for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, Brown University School of Medicine, USA.
authors.forename: Beth C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Bock
authors.forename: Rosa E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Carmona-Barros
authors.forename: Jeanne L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Esler
authors.forename: Peter L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Tilkemeier
mesh_terms: D000359:Aftercare; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000534:rehabilitation; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003710:Demography; D015444:Exercise; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States