<p> Exercise programs designed for cardiac patients frequently report high dropout rates. Little is known about the reasons for this high rate of dropout; further, little is known about health behavior patterns including physical activity subsequent to graduation or dropout from exercise programs. Identification of reasons for dropout and the pattern of physical activity after participation in formal exercise rehabilitation would provide information regarding
achievement and maintenance of treatment goals.</p> <p> Entry characteristics were determined for 84 male cardiac patients (45 compliers and 39 dropouts) from the McMaster Cardiac Rehabilitation Exercise Program. Follow-up information pertaining to areas of: a) health; b) employment, smoking, activity, and dietary status; c) reasons for joining the program; d) perceived benefits achieved; and e) factors contributing to compliance with or dropout from the exercise program was obtained from 63 subjects (41 compliers and 22 dropouts) who responded to a questionnaire by mail.</p> <p> The dropout rate at the end of the 6 month program was 46.4% (39 of 84 subjects) with one-half of all dropout occurring within the first 2 months of the 6 month program. Upon entry into the exercise program, a significantly greater proportion of dropouts (43.6%, n=17) than compliers (8.9%, n=4) were found to be regular smokers. Likewise, a significantly greater proportion of dropouts (82.1%, n=32) than compliers (55.6%, n=25) were found to be inactive in their leisure habits upon entry. Dropouts were also more likely to be blue collar workers (71.8%, n=28), and younger in
age (x̅ age = 48.4 years) when compared to compliers (37.8%, n=17; x̅ age = 54.3 years) upon entry into the exercise program. Upon follow-up, compliers were significantly more likely to report active leisure habits (85.4%, n=35) than were responding dropouts (45.5%, n=10). Compliers were also significantly more likely to report moderate work activity levels upon follow-up (54.8%, n=17) compared to dropouts (22.2%, n=4). Reasons for compliance to and withdrawal from the exercise program provided by respondents centred around psychosocial and personal convenience categories.</p> <p> Although statistically significant, the greater
follow-up activity levels noted among compliers in this study appear to be only temporary, short-term patterns which tend to diminish with time. It is suggested that compliance-improving strategies be developed through further study with the aim of encouraging the long-term maintenance of desired behavior change.</p> / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:mcmaster.ca/oai:macsphere.mcmaster.ca:11375/20202 |
| Date | 08 1900 |
| Creators | Spencer, Janis Suzan |
| Contributors | Oldridge, N. B., Adapted Human Biodynamics |
| Source Sets | McMaster University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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