title: Maintenance of physical activity and exercise capacity after rehabilitation in coronary heart disease: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Physical activity is one of the core components in cardiac rehabilitation and secondary prevention programs. This study investigated the effect of an intervention based on the health action process approach (HAPA) together with family support in the maintenance of physical activity and exercise capacity in coronary heart disease after discharge from rehabilitation.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this randomized controlled trial, 96 patients with coronary heart disease were randomly assigned to control and intervention groups at the end of a rehabilitation program at Afshar Hospital, Yazd, Iran. HAPA Constructs and family support using a self-reported questionnaire and maximal oxygen uptake through a treadmill exercise test were measured prior to and 4 months after the intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HAPA-based intervention together with family support increased scores of HAPA constructs and family support in the intervention group compared with the control group. The results showed that physical activity and exercise capacity in the intervention group was significantly higher than the control group after the intervention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HAPA-based intervention together with family support can be a useful tool for maintenance of physical activity and exercise capacity in coronary heart disease.
authors.forename: Hassan Okati
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Aliabad
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.. Vafaeinasab@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mohammadreza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vafaeinasab
authors.forename: Mohammad Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Morowatisharifabad
authors.forename: Seyed Alireza
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Afshani
authors.forename: Mahdieh Ghanbari
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Firoozabadi
authors.forename: Seyed Khalil
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Forouzannia
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005080:Exercise Test; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009043:Motor Activity; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome