Correlates of Adherence to Supervised Exercise in Patients Awaiting Surgical Removal of Malignant Lung Lesions: Results of a Pilot Study

Purpose/Objectives: To examine the demographic, medical, and social-cognitive correlates of adherence to a presurgical exercise training intervention in patients awaiting surgery for suspected malignant lung lesions.

Design: Pilot study, single-group, prospective design with convenience sampling.

Setting: Exercise training was performed at a university research fitness center in western Canada.

Sample: 19 patients awaiting surgical resection of suspected malignant lung lesions.

Methods: At baseline, participants completed a questionnaire including the Theory of Planned Behavior variables of perceived behavioral control, attitude, and subjective norm, as well as medical and demographic information. Participants were asked to attend five supervised exercise sessions per week during surgical wait time (X = 8 ± 2.4 weeks).

Main Research Variables: Theory of Planned Behavior variables and exercise adherence.

Findings: Adherence to the exercise intervention was 73% (range = 0%-100%). Correlates of adherence were perceived behavioral control (r = 0.63; p = 0.004) and subjective norm (r = 0.51; p = 0.014). Participants with greater than 80% adherence reported significantly higher behavioral control than participants with less than 80% adherence (X difference = 1.1; 95% confidence interval = 0.1-2.2; p = 0.035). Men had better adherence than women (X difference = 24.9%; 95% confidence interval = 0.4-49.4; p = 0.047).

Conclusions: Perceived behavioral control and subjective norm were the strongest correlates of exercise adherence. Women could be at risk for poor exercise adherence prior to lung surgery.

Implications for Nursing: This information could be useful for clinicians in their attempts to improve adherence to exercise interventions in patients awaiting surgery for malignant lung lesions.