Department of Primary Education, School of Education, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, 13A Navarinou str., Athens, 10680, Greece.
Department of Cardiac Surgery, "Attikon" University Hospital, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, 1 Rimini str., Athens, 12462, Greece.
Hellenic J Cardiol. 2020 May-Jun;61(3):180-186. doi: 10.1016/j.hjc.2019.01.002. Epub 2019 Jan 9.
It remains a challenge for children with congenital heart disease (CHD) to develop healthy lifestyle behaviors. This study investigates the interrelationship of physical activity and self-efficacy levels in Greek children with corrected CHD and compares them with those of healthy controls.
A prospective cross-sectional study of 76 patients with operated CHD and 78 healthy volunteers (n = 154) was conducted. The Self Efficacy Scale and Previous Day Physical Activity Recall self-reporting questionnaires were used to assess self-efficacy and physical activity, respectively. Calculated metabolic equivalent of task (MET) provided an indication of participation in moderate and vigorous physical activities.
Mean physical self-efficacy in children with CHD was 29.01 ± 7.28, while that in healthy volunteers was 29.04 ± 6.60 (p = 0.076). Average physical activity levels-METs in children with CHD (2.38 ± 0.85) were significantly lower than those in controls (3.1 ± 0.95). Physical self-efficacy and physical activity were positively correlated (r = 0.515, p = 0.001), thus indicating that children with higher self-efficacy engaged in more vigorous physical activities. In children with CHD, self-efficacy was quite important in predicting physical activity, thus explaining almost ¼ of the variability in observed activities.
The low physical activity levels exhibited by Greek children with corrected CHD can lead to a sedentary adult lifestyle. Improving physical self-efficacy may help encourage them and consequently increase their physical activity levels. School-based education initiatives and athletic programs can play an important role in improving this.
患有先天性心脏病 (CHD) 的儿童养成健康生活方式行为仍然具有挑战性。本研究调查了希腊校正 CHD 儿童的体力活动和自我效能水平之间的相互关系，并将其与健康对照组进行了比较。
对 76 例手术治疗的 CHD 患儿和 78 例健康志愿者（n=154）进行前瞻性横断面研究。使用自我效能量表和前一天体力活动回忆自我报告问卷分别评估自我效能和体力活动。计算代谢当量 (MET) 可指示中等到剧烈体力活动的参与情况。
CHD 患儿的平均身体自我效能为 29.01±7.28，而健康志愿者为 29.04±6.60（p=0.076）。CHD 患儿的平均体力活动水平-METs（2.38±0.85）明显低于对照组（3.1±0.95）。身体自我效能和体力活动呈正相关（r=0.515，p=0.001），表明自我效能较高的儿童进行了更多的剧烈体力活动。在 CHD 患儿中，自我效能在预测体力活动方面非常重要，因此可以解释观察到的活动中近四分之一的可变性。
希腊校正 CHD 儿童的体力活动水平较低可能导致成年后久坐的生活方式。提高身体自我效能感可能有助于鼓励他们，从而提高他们的体力活动水平。基于学校的教育计划和体育项目可以在这方面发挥重要作用。
