Design: A non-equivalent control group, pretest-posttest design was used.

Sample and Setting: The data of 41 Korean adults with chronic diseases (21 for experimental group and 20 for control group) in a clinic at Seoul were analyzed. The intervention took place during 12 weeks between April and July 2003.

Methods: First, the participants completed the PACE assessment, 11 graded statements about physical activity. The score of this instrument is used to categorize them into one of three groups, precontemplator, contemplator, and active. During the visits, the physician and one of the authors or a research assistant provided stage-relevant information and materials. Contemplators received a personalized message to estabilish an initial activity goal. Actives were offered praise and discussed ways to avoid relapse to a sedentary life style. During 12 weeks, the experimental group was provided three face to face counseling and several phone calls.

Findings: The two groups were homogeneous by chi-square and t-test. The exercise self-efficacy and commitment to a plan for exercise after the intervention among experimental group were higher than those before the intervention by paired t-test. After intervention, the comparison between two groups showed that the experimental group was more improved than control group in the stage of exercise by chi-square test. In addtion, the commitment to a plan for exercise of the experimental group was higher than that of the control group by ANCOVA.

Conclusions: This study indicated a possibility that the stage-relevant program was able to increase physical activity. Even though small sample size, this study suggests that this intervention can be applied to other populations as well as larger samples of Korean adults with chronic diseases.

Back to Promotion of Physical Exercise
Back to 15th International Nursing Research Congress
Sigma Theta Tau International
July 22-24, 2004