Adoption of exercise as a lifestyle behavior is important for secondary disease prevention in patients following coronary artery bypass (CAB) surgery. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore factors that influence adherence to exercise, feelings about health and quality of life (QOL), and perceived activity limitations in patients following CAB surgery.
Twenty-eight people were prospectively recruited to participate in this study following surgery and prior to hospital discharge. Data collection took place by phone interview 6 months (+/-1 week) after surgery. Participants were asked a series of open-ended questions related to factors that motivated them to exercise, factors that prevented them from exercising, feelings about their health and QOL, and perceived activity limitations following CAB surgery. Responses were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed. Data were coded by identifying significant statements, grouping them into meaningful units, and generating rich, thick descriptions of patients' perceptions.
The data on factors that helped people exercise produced 10 themes: stay healthy/live longer, physical benefits, know I should, continue to be active, someone to walk with, it's a habit, clears my head, feel better, enjoyment, and getting outside. Factors that prevented respondents from exercising resulted in 9 themes: no one to do it with, never done it regularly, don't have time, weather, lack of interest, attending to other responsibilities, don't feel like doing it, nothing I know of, and illness or injury. Seven themes emerged from the feelings about health and QOL data: feel better, still recovering, didn't know I had a problem, feel the same, dealing with other health issues, getting older, and feel lousy. Perceived activity limitations data revealed that patients were still exercising caution in terms of returning to physical activities 6 months following surgery.
Exercise adherence is an important clinical issue, particularly for patients with heart disease, but the factors influencing adherence are poorly understood. Study findings will give healthcare professionals insight on patients' perceptions of factors that influence adherence to exercise, feelings about health and QOL, and perceived activity limitations 6 months after CAB surgery.