Exercise Intention and its Associated Factors Among Persons Post-Stroke: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Yi Zhou,1 Biao Hua,2 Xiaoyang Shi,1 Shaoying Du,1 Jing Yuan,1 Yan Wang1 1School of Nursing, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Yan Wang, School of Nursing, Hebei University, No. 342 Yuhuadong Road, Lianchi District, Baoding, Hebei, 071000, People’s Republic of China, Tel/Fax [phone], Email [email protected] Biao Hua, Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University, No. 212 Yuhuadong Road, Lianchi District, Baoding, Hebei, 071000, People’s Republic of China, Email [email protected]: To investigate the level of exercise intention and its associated factors among persons post-stroke using the Theory of Planned Behavior.Patients and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 333 participants admitted to the neurology units of a tertiary care hospital in China with a confirmed diagnosis of stroke were recruited. A self-administered instrument based on the Theory of Planned Behavior was used to determine the exercise intention and its associated factors among persons post-stroke.Results: The results revealed that only 128 participants had exercise intention after discharge with a prevalence of 38.4%. Multivariable linear regression analysis revealed that monthly income, living situation, subjective norms, attitude, and perceived behavioral control were significant predictors of exercise intention of persons post-stroke. Perceived behavioral control and living situation were the most relevant factors of exercise intention.Conclusion: The level of exercise intention among persons post-stroke was found to be low. Perceived behavioral control and living situation were particularly important and contributed to exercise intention. Healthcare professionals’ adequate guidance on exercise should be provided, with a focus on educating both patients and their family members, especially spouses, to promote exercise intention in persons post-stroke.Keywords: exercise intention, stroke, exercise adherence, Theory of Planned Behavior

Keywords

• exercise intention
• stroke
• exercise adherence
• theory of planned behavior;