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Impact of a six week cardiac rehabilitation program on the leisure time physical activity of cardiac patients
Author
Tan, Gek Han
Supervisor
Chia, Michael
Abstract
Introduction :Coronary heart disease is one of the top three diseases in Singapore and physical inactivity is one of the contributing risk factors for the development of the disease. The 1998 National Health Survey shows that more than 50% of Singaporeans do not participate in any form of physical activity. Physical activity is shown to reduce the mortality risk and re-infarction of post cardiac event patients through regression of arterial stenosis (decrease in artery narrowing). Therefore, cardiac rehabilitation stresses the importance of maintaining a physically active lifestyle after a cardiac event to prevent a recurrence of heart attack.
Aim : This study evaluated the effect of cardiac rehabilitation on the physical activity status of male cardiac patients 6 months after a cardiac event.
Method : The measurement tool was the Minnesota Leisure Time Physical Activity Questionnaire. Face to face questionnaire administration was conducted pre and post cardiac rehabilitation program on 30 male patients who were non retirees. A one month recall (four week history) on their leisure time physical activities was used.
Analysis ; Paired sample t test (p < 0.05) was used to compare the change in physical activity status pre and post cardiac rehabilitation and one way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) (p < 0.05) was used to compare the change in physical activity level among different age groups, races, Body Mass Index (BMI) groups and job groups.
Conclusion : It was found that there was a significant increase in leisure time physical activity of cardiac patients 6 months after the cardiac event (p < 0.05), but the average weekly leisure time energy expenditure was insufficient to meet the American College of Sports Medicine's (ACSM) guidelines on exercise prescription for cardiovascular health. BMI, age and race did not have any effect on the change in leisure time physical activity pre and post cardiac rehabilitation program. Patients who returned to jobs requiring walking, lifting and carrying were found to have significantly lower change in leisure time physical activity compared to those whose jobs were sedentary and desk bound (p < 0.05).
Recommendation : The findings of the study are useful for improving the existing cardiac rehabilitation program, and the approach taken to improve cardiac patients' adherence to regular leisure time physical activity, to the level that is beneficial to the cardiovascular system, after the completion of a cardiac rehabilitation program.
Aim : This study evaluated the effect of cardiac rehabilitation on the physical activity status of male cardiac patients 6 months after a cardiac event.
Method : The measurement tool was the Minnesota Leisure Time Physical Activity Questionnaire. Face to face questionnaire administration was conducted pre and post cardiac rehabilitation program on 30 male patients who were non retirees. A one month recall (four week history) on their leisure time physical activities was used.
Analysis ; Paired sample t test (p < 0.05) was used to compare the change in physical activity status pre and post cardiac rehabilitation and one way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) (p < 0.05) was used to compare the change in physical activity level among different age groups, races, Body Mass Index (BMI) groups and job groups.
Conclusion : It was found that there was a significant increase in leisure time physical activity of cardiac patients 6 months after the cardiac event (p < 0.05), but the average weekly leisure time energy expenditure was insufficient to meet the American College of Sports Medicine's (ACSM) guidelines on exercise prescription for cardiovascular health. BMI, age and race did not have any effect on the change in leisure time physical activity pre and post cardiac rehabilitation program. Patients who returned to jobs requiring walking, lifting and carrying were found to have significantly lower change in leisure time physical activity compared to those whose jobs were sedentary and desk bound (p < 0.05).
Recommendation : The findings of the study are useful for improving the existing cardiac rehabilitation program, and the approach taken to improve cardiac patients' adherence to regular leisure time physical activity, to the level that is beneficial to the cardiovascular system, after the completion of a cardiac rehabilitation program.
Date Issued
2006
Call Number
GV481 Tan
Date Submitted
2006