title: Psychosocial outcomes of an exercise maintenance intervention after phase II cardiac rehabilitation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Maintenance of exercise after completing phase II cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is challenging for many patients. We offered a telephone-based maintenance intervention and found improvement in exercise participation in the intervention group at 12 months post-CR discharge. We examined the effects of the intervention on psychosocial outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  The effects of a home-based exercise maintenance intervention on psychosocial outcomes among patients who had completed phase II CR versus contact control were evaluated in a randomized controlled trial. Data were collected in 2005 to 2010 and analyzed in 2011. One hundred thirty patients (mean age = 63.6 [SD = 9.7] years, 20.8% female) were randomized to exercise counseling (Maintenance Counseling group, n = 64) or contact control (Contact Control group, n = 66). Maintenance Counseling group participants received exercise counseling (based on the transtheoretical model and social-cognitive theory) delivered via telephone for 6 months, as well as print materials and feedback reports. Assessments of depression, quality of life, and mental health were conducted at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Maintenance Counseling group reported statistically significant higher quality of life than the Contact Control group at 6 months (b = 0.29, SE = 0.08, P < .001) and 12 months (b = 0.27, SE = 0.09, P = .002). Intervention effects on depressive symptoms were significant at 12 months (b = -6.42, SE = 2.43, P = .009). Effects on overall mental health were nonsignificant at both followups. No significant moderators of treatment effects were found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A telephone-based intervention that helped maintain exercise showed statistically significant improvements in quality of life and reduced depressive symptoms in this patient population.
authors: Centers for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, Miriam Hospital, Providence, RI 02903, USA. bpinto@lifespan.org
authors: Bernardine M
authors: BM
authors: Pinto
authors: Shira I
authors: SI
authors: Dunsiger
authors: Nancy
authors: N
authors: Farrell
authors: Bess H
authors: BH
authors: Marcus
authors: John F
authors: JF
authors: Todaro
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011584:Psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires