Investigation of exercise self-efficacy levels and perceptions of benefits/barriers related to exercise in patients with acute coronary syndrome

Although exercise is important for every individual, it has a positive effect on preventing coronary problems from recurring after acute coronary syndrome. This study was conducted to determine the exercise self-efficacy levels of patients with acute coronary syndrome and their perceptions of benefits/barriers related to exercise. The research was carried out in descriptive design. It was carried out in the coronary intensive care and cardiology department of a university hospital. The sampling included 196 patients with acute coronary syndrome. December 2021-May 2022 data were collected by face-to-face interview method. As a data collection tool; the patient information form, the exercise self-efficacy scale and the exercise benefits/barriers scale were used. In order to conduct the research, ethics committee permission, institution permission, usage permission for the scales and informed consent form were obtained from the patients. Number, percentage, mean, standard deviation, t test, Kolmogorov Smirnov test, Shapiro wilk test, one-way ANOVA test, Kruskal Wallis, Man Whitney U test were used in the analysis of the data using the SPSS 22 package program. The average age of the patients participating in the study was 55.8±9.3; 54.6% were male, 82.7% were married; 58.1% of them had primary school and lower education status. It was found that the model of the determinants of the exercise self-efficacy scale was significant (F=9.665; p<0.001) and the variables explained 34% of the scale score. While it was determined that the weekly exercise duration (min) and the exercise benefit scale were the variables that significantly contributed to the model, a one-minute increase in weekly exercise duration increased the self-efficacy score by 0.146; an increase of one point in the exercise benefit scale was found to increase the scale score by the amount of 0.390. As a result, it was found that the exercise self-efficacy status of patients was high for many variables, and the perceived benefits of exercise were less compared to the barriers. It is recommended that patients after acute coronary syndrome start exercising as soon as possible and make it a lifestyle. For the patients; exercise rehabilitation methods should be developed, patients should be ensured to gain self-efficacy and it should be ensured that they develop the perception of benefits rather than barriers for exercise. Keywords: Acute coronory syndrome, Barriers, Benefits, Exercise self-efficacy, Nursing