title: Physical activity behavior two to six years following cardiac rehabilitation: a socioecological analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) promotes long-term positive health behaviours, such as physical activity (PA), in patients following a cardiovascular event. We have limited knowledge of long-term PA and its correlates. Therefore, this research examined both PA behaviour and socioecological correlates among elderly graduates 2-6 years following CR.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  CR graduates will have a moderate PA level in the long term. Greater PA will be associated with various multilevel correlates.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective, cross-sectional study which quantified PA using the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) and collected information about socioecological correlates at the intrapersonal, interpersonal and health service levels. Both univariate and multivariate analyses assessed PA and PA correlates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of the 584 participants were older (69.8 ± 9.8), male (80.3%), and well educated (75.4% ≥ some post-secondary). Average time since CR graduation was 41.5 ± 11.5 months. Seventy five percent of CR graduates reported current weekly PA levels that met, or exceeded, Canadian PA guidelines (>150 minutes of moderate-vigorous PA). Univariate analyses identified 13 PASE score correlates. Multivariate analyses identified age, PA enjoyment, current work status, CR staff support, location of primary residence, and perceived health as significantly associated with higher PASE scores (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Three and a half years post-CR graduates had high PA levels. Greater PA was associated with several modifiable multilevel correlates at all levels of influence. Understanding correlates of long-term PA behaviour among CR graduates will help identify groups at risk for nonadherence and assist with continued program development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. danielle.bentley@mail.utoronto.ca
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bentley
authors.forename: Shazareen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Sherry
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grace
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006304:Health Status; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors