Mediating role of daily physical activity on quality of life in patients with heart failure.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: An understanding of the contribution of daily physical activity and functional status to quality of life in patients with heart failure has the potential to enable patients to achieve better outcomes. Nevertheless, research that examines the relationship between these 3 variables in heart failure patients in Taiwan is lacking. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to close this gap by exploring the relationship among daily physical activity, functional status, and quality of life in this population. METHODS: This study used a descriptive, cross-sectional, correlational design. A convenience sample of 108 heart failure patients was recruited, from November 2009 to September 2010, from 4 teaching hospitals in Taiwan. The data were collected by demographic questionnaire, New York Heart Association classification (functional status), Daily Physical Activity Status Index (daily physical activity), and Minnesota Living With Heart Failure Questionnaire (quality of life). Pearson correlations, hierarchical logistic regression, and the Sobel test were conducted to determine the relationship between functional status, daily physical activity, and quality of life. Propensity score analysis was used to adjust the inequality of the underlying diseases that the patients had and ensure the mediating effect. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: A significant mediating effect of daily physical activity on the relationship between functional status and quality of life was found. Multidisciplinary healthcare providers should work together to develop an intervention focused on enhancing daily physical activity and to evaluate the effectiveness of promoting quality of life for patients living with heart failure.

Using the theory of planned behavior to predict the use of incentive spirometry among cardiac surgery patients in Taiwan.

OBJECTIVE: The use of incentive spirometry (IS) is reported to prevent and treat postoperative pulmonary complications. This study sought to use the theory of planned behavior to predict the use of IS in this population. METHODS: The study used a prospective design, with convenience sampling, to recruit a total of 116 postcardiac-surgery patients from 2 medical centers in Taipei, Taiwan, from November 2008 to May 2009. Data were collected through 2 instruments: a demographic questionnaire, and an IS questionnaire. Descriptive analysis, independent t test, one-way analysis of variance, binary regression, and liner regression were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Perceived behavioral control, but not intention, was a predictor of the use of IS. CONCLUSION: Our findings provide partial support for the utility of the theory of planned behavior in explaining the use of IS behavior for cardiac surgery patients.