Eman Alsaleh
University of Nottingham, UK
Title: Behavioural intervention to increase physical activity in adults with coronary heart disease in Jordan
Biography
Biography: Eman Alsaleh
Abstract
Background: Patients with CHD often do not follow prescribed physical activity recommendations.
Aim: To assess the efficacy of behavioural intervention to increase physical activity in patients not attending supervised physical activity programmes.
Design: Randomised controlled trial comparing 6-month multi-component behavioural change intervention (n=85) with usual care (n=71). Intervention included one face-to-face individualised consultation, 6 telephone support calls (for goal-setting, feedback and self-monitoring) and 18 reminder text messages.
Setting: Two hospitals in Jordan, Middle East.
Participants: 156 patients with CHD (mean age 57.5 years; 54% male, 46% female).
Measurements: Outcomes measured at baseline and 6 months. Primary outcome was physical activity level. Secondary outcomes were blood pressure, body mass index, exercise self-efficacy for exercise and health-related quality of life.
Findings: Intervention and control groups were comparable at baseline. Moderate physical activity significantly increased in intervention group compared with control group (mean change (SD) of frequency: 0.23 (0.87) days/week versus -.06 (0.40), duration: 15.53 (90.15) minutes/week versus -3.67 (22.60) minutes/week and intensity: 31.05 (105.98) Metabolic equivalents (METs) versus 14.68 (90.40) METs. Walking significantly increased in the intervention group compared with control group (the mean change (SD) of frequency: 3.15 (2.75) days/week versus 0.37 (1.83) days/week, duration: 150.90 (124.47) minutes/week versus 24.05(195.93) minutes/week and intensity: 495.12 (413.74) METs versus14.62 (265.06) METs. Intervention participants had significantly lower blood pressure, lower body mass index, greater exercise self-efficacy and better health-related quality of life at 6 months compared with controls.
Conclusions: Multi-component behavioural intervention increases physical activity, and improves body composition, physiological and psychological outcomes in CHD patients not attending structured rehabilitation programmes.