title: Supporting cardiac patient physical activity: a brief health psychological intervention.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  One of the most important risk factors for coronary artery disease is physical inactivity. Health psychological research demonstrates the importance of planning for behaviour change success. Consequently, a health action process approach (HAPA) model-based design to support the uptake of physical activity was initiated for the first time in an acute cardiac ward.
  
  
  METHODS
  For impact evaluation, a control group (CG) and an intervention group (IG) of coronary artery disease patients were compared in a controlled longitudinal study. Baseline assessment included socio-demographic variables, intentions regarding physical activity, and actual physical activity prior to the coronary artery disease event. Follow-up data were collected 2 and 6 months after discharge.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 193 patients participated in this controlled longitudinal study (63 ± 9 years; CG: N = 78; IG: N = 115). The IG reported a higher increase in physical activity (p < 0.05), intentions, and coping planning (p < 0.05), and also in action planning and control (p < 0.01) 2 months after discharge. Both CG and IG increased their physical activity 6 months after discharge to the point of no significant difference (p = 0.664).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A HAPA model-based health psychological intervention on an acute cardiac ward is able to increase patients' physical activity over the short term. However, integration of follow-up interventions (preferable in cardiac rehabilitation settings) would be necessary to support sustained physical activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Psychology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Schöpfstrasse 23a, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria. marion.platter@tirol-kliniken.at.|Faculty for Psychology and Sports Science, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria. marion.platter@tirol-kliniken.at.
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Platter
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hofer
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, University Hospital Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Cornelia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hölzl
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Psychology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Schöpfstrasse 23a, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Huber
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Psychology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Schöpfstrasse 23a, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Renn
authors.affiliation: University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.
authors.forename: Dave
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Webb
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Psychology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Schöpfstrasse 23a, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Höfer
mesh_terms: D000072038:Cardiac Rehabilitation / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D010358:Patient Participation; D064797:Physical Conditioning, Human / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Coronary artery disease; Follow-up study; Health action process approach; Health psychology; Physical activity