Application of the Transtheoretical Model to Exercise Behavior and Physical Activity in Patients after Open Heart Surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To assess exercise behavior and physical activity levels after open heart surgery.


METHODS
This prospective cohort study included 130 patients (70.8% male, aged 61.0 ± 12.2 years, 53.8% coronary bypass grafting) who underwent open heart surgery. The exercise behavior and physical activity of these patients were assessed at the 3- and 6-month follow-up appointments. Additional interviews were also conducted to further assess exercise behavior. Physical activity duration and metabolic equivalents were calculated from self-reported questionnaire responses. Moreover, possible related demographic factors, clinical features, participation in cardiac rehabilitation programs, and physical activity levels were additionally evaluated.


RESULTS
Six months after hospital discharge, most patients were in the action (39.2%) and maintenance (37.7%) stages. Other subjects were in the precontemplation (11.5%), contemplation (5.4%), and preparation (6.2%) stages. The average physical activity level was 332.6 ± 377.1 min/week and 1198.1 ± 1396.9 KJ/week. Subjects in the action and maintenance stages exercised an average of 399.4 ± 397.6 min/week, significantly longer than those in other stages (116.2 ± 176.2 min/week, p = 0.02). Subjects that participated in outpatient cardiac rehabilitation programs after discharge may have the better exercise habit. Gender had no significant effect on exercise behavior 6 months after hospital discharge.


CONCLUSIONS
Most subjects following open heart surgery may maintain regular exercise behavior at 6 months after hospital discharge. Physical activity levels sufficient for cardiac health were achieved by subjects in the active and maintenance stages. Outpatient cardiac rehabilitation programs are valuable for encouraging exercise behavior after heart surgery.


BACKGROUND
Exercise behavior; Open heart surgery; Physical activity; Transtheoretical model.
Heart Center, Cheng Hsin General Hospital;
Hsin-Yi
HY
Huang
Heart Center, Cheng Hsin General Hospital;
Yu-Shan
YS
Lin
Heart Center, Cheng Hsin General Hospital;
Yi-Cheng
YC
Chuang
Heart Center, Cheng Hsin General Hospital;
Wei-Hsuan
WH
Lin
Heart Center, Cheng Hsin General Hospital;
Li Ying
LY
Kuo
Heart Center, Cheng Hsin General Hospital;
Jui Chun
JC
Chen
Heart Center, Cheng Hsin General Hospital;
Ching Ling
CL
Hsu
Heart Center, Cheng Hsin General Hospital;
Bo Yan
BY
Chen
Heart Center, Cheng Hsin General Hospital;
Hui Yu
HY
Tsai
Heart Center, Cheng Hsin General Hospital;
Fei Hsin
FH
Cheng
Heart Center, Cheng Hsin General Hospital;
Mei-Wun
MW
Tsai