Abstract

The purpose of this study was to find out if men with myocardial infarction followed exercise prescribed by the physician. The reasons the patients did or did not follow the exercise prescription were investigated.

An interview guide was used to gather the data for this exploratory study. The questions on the interview guide were designed to obtain information to compare the former exercise pattern of the patient to exercise after infarction. Adherence to the exercise prescription was also determined by the exercise reported in the interview. Fifteen male subjects who had myocardial infarction were interviewed in the hospital and after they had been at home for more than a week.

Adherence to the prescription was decided by a panel of four judges. Exercise behavior was compared to the exercise prescription and categorized according to criteria based on the metabolic cost of various activities.

It was found that nine of the fifteen patients did not follow the exercise prescription. One patient performed less exercise than prescribed but the other eight performed exercise in the excess of the instructions. Five of the subjects had questions about exercise or were not sure if they should perform certain activities. Four of the subjects appeared to follow the prescription.

The majority of the patients in the sample reported difficulty in avoiding contraindicated activities that has once been routine. Seven of the subjects noted that household repairs were the most difficult tasks to avoid. The four patients who seemed to adhere to the prescription had a decrease in activity due to illness before infarction and noted chest pain or fatigue infarction.

The patients in this study who did not adhere to prescribed exercise seemed to have the most change in activity. This may be an indication that post infarction patients need help to adjust to a temporary change in activity.

Five of the patients had questions about prescribed exercise. This implies that post infarction patients may need assistance in understanding prescribed exercise. As a member of the health team the nurse may contribute information about the patient in the discharge planning conference so that a more easily understood prescription may be presented to the patient.

LLU Discipline

Nursing

Department

Nursing

School

Graduate School

First Advisor

L. Lucile Lewis

Second Advisor

Roy V. Jutzy

Third Advisor

Lavaun W. Sutton

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Degree Level

M.S.

Year Degree Awarded

1970

Date (Title Page)

6-1970

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Myocardial Infarction; Patient Compliance; Exertion

Type

Thesis

Page Count

vii; 82

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

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