Experience of physical activity described by patients with heart failure who have received individualized exercise advice: A qualitative study.
Leonie Klompstra, Maria Liljeroos, Tiny Jaarsma and 1 others
PMID 33225374WHAT IT FOUND
Patients with heart failure felt encouraged to be active by advice and monitoring, but often lacked specific guidance on how much or what to do.
They adapted activities to fit their abilities and relied on social support and accessible environments to stay active.
Key findings
01Patients felt encouraged to change activity levels by advice and telephone calls, but many lacked specific guidance on how much or what kind of activity to perform.
02Participants adapted their activities to their current physical condition, such as using stationary bikes or golf carts, and adjusted speed and distance to manage symptoms.
03Social support from partners and friends, along with accessible environments like nearby nature, facilitated activity, while discouragement from family or poor infrastructure acted as barriers.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study included only patients from the control group of a trial, so their experience was influenced by being monitored and receiving specific advice, which may not reflect typical clinical care. The sample lacked variation in heart failure severity, with no patients in NYHA class I or IV, limiting transferability to those with very mild or very severe symptoms. The study was conducted in Sweden, so cultural and environmental factors may differ in other countries. Participants were recruited from a trial, which may introduce selection bias regarding motivation and health status.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that the motivation patients felt was due to the intervention's efficacy. The study describes experiences in a control group where patients were monitored and received standard advice, and some felt obligated to comply rather than intrinsically motivated. This is not evidence that this specific advice protocol improves outcomes compared to usual care.