Title: Analysis of the influencing factors related to exercise adherence in community elderly patients with coronary heart disease: Based on self-determination theory
Abstract:
Background: Clinical study shows physical activity in elderly heart patients remains below guideline recommendations. Motivation to exercise is an important factor in maintaining high exercise adherence in older adults. Self-Determination theory (SDT) emphases the dynamic role of the self in the motivational process and suggests that satisfying an individual's basic psychological needs will promote a shift towards more autonomous forms of motivation. This study will explore the factors and pathways associated with exercise adherence in elderly community-dwelling patients with coronary heart disease from the perspective of exercise psychology, based on self-determination theory.
Methods: 207 community-dwelling elderly patients with coronary heart disease will be investigate by a cross-sectional study. Guided by Self-Determination Theory, the General Information Questionnaire, Exercise Adherence Questionnaire, Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction Scale, Exercise Behavioral Regulation Scale, and Revised Attitude Towards Control Scale were used to conduct the survey.
Results: The exercise adherence score of 207 community-dwelling elderly patients with coronary artery disease was (24.02±5.74). Patients' basic psychological needs, exercise motivation, and perceived control were positively correlated with exercise adherence (r=0.580, 0.684, 0.587; all P<0.01). Basic psychological needs had a direct positive predictive effect on exercise motivation and exercise adherence (β=0.615, 0.257; all P<0.01). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that monthly income, exercise frequency, basic psychological needs, exercise motivation, and perceived control were the main influencing factors of exercise adherence (P < 0.05) which together explaining 61.7% of the total variance.
Conclusions: Monthly income, frequency of exercise, basic psychological needs, exercise motivation, and perceived control predict exercise adherence. Healthcare professionals should strengthen psychological interventions for elderly patients with coronary artery disease in the community to improve the satisfaction of their basic psychological needs and to promote the formation of their autonomic exercise motivation, which will in turn improve the exercise adherence of the patients.
Audience Take Away Notes:
• Researchers can develop interventions to improve exercise adherence based on modifiable influences
• Guided by self-determination theory and from the perspective of exercise psychology, this study analyzed the causes of poor exercise compliance in elderly patients with coronary heart disease and provided new ideas for solving the problem of poor exercise compliance
• Other scholars can use this study as a basis for developing measures based on self-determination theory to improve the exercise compliance of elderly patients with coronary heart disease in the community
