Perceptions of exercise and quality of life in older patients in the United States during the first year following coronary artery bypass surgery

Background and purpose: It is important for patients recovering from coronary artery bypass (CAB) surgery to initiate and maintain recommended exercise guidelines. The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe factors that influence adherence to exercise, and perceptions of activity limitations and health-related quality of life (QoL) in older patients recovering from CAB surgery. Subjects: Participants were 28 people aged 65 and older, prospectively recruited from a U.S. hospital following CAB surgery. Procedures: A qualitative description methodology was used to identify factors that influenced participants' feelings about exercise and QoL. Data were collected using phone interviews 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. Data were coded by identifying significant statements, grouping them into meaningful units or themes, and generating descriptions of participants' experiences and understandings. Results: Across time points, participants' most commonly described motivators were that it feels good to exercise, and belief that it improves physical health. The most commonly cited barriers to exercise were other time commitments, inclement weather, and pain/injury/illness related or unrelated to CAB surgery. Discussion and conclusion: Motivating themes remained consistent across the time intervals but the number of responses regarding barriers to exercise increased over time. A better understanding of the patient experience may help to promote exercise initiation and adherence following CAB surgery.