A Study on the Stage of Change of Exercise Behavior and Related Factors in Patients with Chronic Arthritis

Lee, Yun Jeong; Lim, Nan Young

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study was done to identify the process of change, decisional balance and self-efficacy corresponding to stage of exercise behavior based on the Transtheoretical model in patients with chronic arthritis. METHOD: The participants were 151 patients with chronic arthritis using an out-patient pain clinic and hospital in C city. The collected data were analyzed using ANOVA, Sheffe test and discriminant analysis with SPSS/WIN.
RESULTS
The patients were distributed as follows for each stage of exercise behavior 21.8% in the precontemplation stage, 26.5% in the contemplation stage, 25.2% in the preparation stage, 7.3% in the action stage, and 19.2% in the maintenance stage. Significant effects for stage of change were found for nine of the 10 processes of change and Pros, Cons, self-efficacy. Scores on these variables were found to increase across the stage of exercise behaviors from precontemplation to maintenance. Discriminant analysis revealed that self-efficacy and stimulus control, and reinforcement management were the major correlates of the stage of exercise behaviors.
CONCLUSION
The findings of this study give useful information for exercise intervention, by using strategies of exercise for chronic arthritis patients in different stages of exercise behavior.