Abstract
Background: Adequate physical activity is believed to help decrease readmission and improve quality of life for patients with heart failure (HF).
Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the predictors of physical activity level 1 month after discharge from hospital in Taiwanese patients with HF.
Method: A prospective research design was used. Overall, 111 patients with HF from a medical center in Southern Taiwan were recruited. Symptomatic distress, self-efficacy for physical activity, physical activity knowledge, and demographic and disease characteristics of patients with HF were collected at their discharge. One month later, patients' total daily energy expenditure (DEE), DEE for low-intensity physical activities (PAlow DEE; strictly <3 metabolic equivalents [METs]), DEE for high-intensity physical activities (PAhigh DEE; 3-5 METs), and DEE for intensive-intensity physical activities (PAintensive DEE; strictly >5 METs) were collected.
Results: The mean total DEE was 8175.85 +/- 2595.12 kJ 24 h-1, of which 19.12% was for PAlow DEE, 7.20% was for PAhigh DEE, and only 1.42% was for PAintensive DEE. Body mass index (BMI), age, self-efficacy for instrumental activities of daily living, and educational level were predictors of total DEE of patients with HF 1 month after discharge. Self-efficacy for instrumental activities of daily living, gender, and BMI were predictors of PAhigh DEE. Age, BMI, and symptom distress were predictors of PAintensive DEE.
Conclusions: Taiwanese patients with HF practiced lower intensity physical activities. Factors related to physical activity of patients with HF in Taiwan were similar to those of Western countries. Nurses should emphasize the importance of physical activity to patients with HF who are male, of older age, with lower educational level, or with lower BMI. Improving self-efficacy for instrumental activities and decreasing symptom distress should be incorporated into discharge planning programs for patients with HF.