RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to investigate the association between patient self-efficacy, impression of exercise education, and physical activity among stroke survivors. We hypothesized that low self-efficacy and/or poor impressions of exercise education after stroke would be associated with reduced exercise participation. DESIGN: This is a cross-sectional investigation of patients' poststroke with physical activity as the primary outcome variable. Physical activity was measured with the Physical Activity Scale for Individuals with Physical Disabilities. Self-efficacy was measured with the Self-Efficacy for Exercise questionnaire. Impression of exercise education measured by the Exercise Impression Questionnaire. RESULTS: There was a low but significant correlation between Self-Efficacy for Exercise questionnaire and Physical Activity Scale for Individuals with Physical Disabilities ( r (66) = 0.272, P = 0.012). There was an insignificant correlation between Exercise Impression Questionnaire and Physical Activity Scale for Individuals with Physical Disabilities ( r (66) = 0.174, P = 0.078). There was a low but significant correlation between age and Physical Activity Scale for Individuals with Physical Disabilities ( r (66) = -0.269, P = 0.013). There was no correlation between sex and Physical Activity Scale for Individuals with Physical Disabilities ( r (66) = 0.051, P = 0.339). Age, sex, Exercise Impression Questionnaire, and Self-Efficacy for Exercise questionnaire predict 17.1% of Physical Activity Scale for Individuals with Physical Disabilities variance ( R2 = 0.171). CONCLUSION: Self-efficacy was the strongest predictor of physical activity participation. There was a lack of association between the impressions of exercise education and physical activity. Addressing patient confidence to complete exercise has the potential to improve exercise participation in patients after stroke.