title: An exploration of beliefs regarding exercise among Taiwanese patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the beliefs regarding regular exercise among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Low adherence to exercise has been observed in patients with COPD. It is important to identify factors regarding exercise from the patients' viewpoint.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-one patients were recruited from a medical center in Taiwan. Semi-structured, in-depth, one-on-one interviews were conducted to collect data. The narratives of the interviews were analyzed via content analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of the participants affirmed the benefits of regular exercise; however, concerns about personal comfort and safety affected their actual exercise behavior. Five normative references were found to support exercise behavior, and several exercise promoters were identified.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides an understanding of exercise beliefs of Taiwanese patients with COPD stage II-IV and suggests several ideas for their exercise maintenance. There is a need to provide individualized exercise guides and reinforced programs for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Nursing, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, No. 250, Wuxing Street, Taipei 11031, Taiwan. hcwang@mail.cmu.edu.tw
authors.forename: Hsiao-Chiao
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jen-Chen
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Yann-Fen C
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Chao
authors.forename: Min-Huey
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Yang-Hao
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Kuo-Liang
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: Shin-Da
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015897:Comorbidity; D003469:Culture; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000523:psychology; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology