Prediction of intention to exercise of individuals who have suffered from coronary heart disease.

The aim of the study was to understand the intention to exercise of individuals who suffer from CHD. A group of 161 cardiac patients completed a questionnaire that investigated intentions, attitudes, subjective norms, perceived barriers, habits, perceived difficulties, and personal normative beliefs with respect to exercising, as well as perceived severity of and perceived vulnerability to re-infarction. Regression of intention yielded an R2 of .41 (p less than .0001), with perceived barriers, habits, and perceived difficulties as the significant predictors. MANOVA indicated that high and low intenders differed (p less than .01) according to their perception of three barriers: difficulties in time management, difficulties in psychological adaptation, and laziness. These results suggest that new guidelines should be adopted for the development of cardiac rehabilitation exercise programs.