title: Stages of health behavior change and factors associated with physical activity in patients with intermittent claudication.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze, in people with intermittent claudication, the frequency of individuals who are in each of stages of health behavior change to practice physical activity, and analyze the association of these stages with the walking capacity.
  
  
  METHODS
  We recruited 150 patients with intermittent claudication treated at a tertiary center, being included those > 30-year-old-individuals and who had ankle-arm index < 0.90. We obtained socio-demographic information, presence of comorbidities and cardiovascular risk factors and stages of health behavior change to practice physical activity through a questionnaire, they being pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action and maintenance. Moreover, the walking capacity was measured in a treadmill test (Gardner protocol).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most individuals were in the maintenance stage (42.7%), however, when the stages of health behavior change were categorized into active (action and maintenance) and inactive (pre-contemplation, contemplation and preparation), 51.3% of the individuals were classified as inactive behavior. There was no association between stages of health behavior change, sociodemographic factors and cardiovascular risk factors. However, patients with intermittent claudication who had lower total walking distance were three times more likely to have inactive behavior.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most patients with intermittent claudication showed an inactive behavior and, in this population, lower walking capacity was associated with this behavior.
authors: Research Group in Hemodynamics and Exercise Metabolism, Universidade de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors: Jacilene Guedes da
authors: JG
authors: Oliveira
authors: João Paulo dos Anjos Souza
authors: JP
authors: Barbosa
authors: Breno Quintella
authors: BQ
authors: Farah
authors: Marcel da Rocha
authors: Mda R
authors: Chehuen
authors: Gabriel Grizzo
authors: GG
authors: Cucato
authors: Nelson
authors: N
authors: Wolosker
authors: Cláudia Lúcia de Moraes
authors: CL
authors: Forjaz
authors: Raphael Mendes Ritti
authors: RM
authors: Dias
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D007383:Intermittent Claudication / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D058729:Peripheral Arterial Disease / Q000175:diagnosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology