Identifier

etd-12162005-090458

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Kinesiology

Document Type

Dissertation

Abstract

The goal of this research was to gain greater understanding about the management of heart failure patients. A particular focus was to evaluate exercise tolerance and behavior. The major findings of the first study included: (1) evidence that few heart failure patients receive adequate information regarding physical activity; (2) performance on a six-minute walk test were ~42% lower, and SF-36 scores were also lower in heart failure patients compared to controls; (3) stability in hemodynamic measures and distance walked on the 6-minute walk test were adequate, and (4) home exercise resulted in 19% improvement in maximum walking distance and 30% improvement in physical function score on the SF-36. The second study showed the feasibility to implement a care-managed program for heart failure patients in a family practice setting. However, a significant barrier was recruitment. Despite this failure, patients improved ~24% on the maximum walking distance and 29%, 46%, and 13% on the physical function, vitality, and mental health scores on the SF-36. The third study examined the motivation and readiness of heart failure patients to engage in planned physical activity. The findings revealed 22 patients in precontemplation, 33 in contemplation, 41 in preparation, 23 in action, and 29 in maintenance. In regards to the Transtheoretical model constructs (self-efficacy, pros and cons of decisional balance, and experiential processes) the data revealed that self-efficacy scores were lowest in the precontemplation and increased in linear fashion to maintenance. Decisional balance changed from greater perceived cons and lower perceived pros in precontemplation and contemplation to lower perceived cons and higher perceived pros in action and maintenance. Experiential processes were used predominantly in precontemplation and contemplation, whereas behavioral processes were more prominently used in action and maintenance. The most important predictors of physical activity stages of change were the behavioral processes (r2= .78)followed by perceived self-efficacy (r2= .66). Finally, this study indicated that patients in preaction stages of readiness to exercise have significant lower exercise tolerance then those in action and maintenance. These data suggest greater clinical emphasis should be placed on strategies to move patients toward the preparation and action stages of readiness.

Date

2006

Document Availability at the Time of Submission

Release the entire work immediately for access worldwide.

Committee Chair

Michael Welsch

DOI

10.31390/gradschool_dissertations.3911

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Kinesiology Commons

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