Abstract
The failure of people with coronary heart disease to adhere to prescribed programs of long-term exercise is a growing concern among healthcare professionals. The problem is attributed partly to not correctly identifying the specific exercise adherence behavior desired. There is a need in cardiac rehabilitation for different theoretical and practical approaches to the study of patient adherence to short-term and long-term exercise prescriptions. This article is a review of behavioral and cognitive models used to promote exercise in cardiac rehabilitation programs. Concepts are borrowed from these models to design a conceptual map intended to identify variables and relationships associated with exercise adherence behaviors. In this article, the Coronary Artery Disease Exercise Map (CADEM), an evolving conceptual map, addresses exercise behavior within a coronary population. However, this map may also be applied to people who have other chronic conditions. It is believed that the CADEM will provide researchers and healthcare providers with a framework with which to understand, promote, and evaluate adherence to exercise regimes within the rehabilitation population.
Collapse