FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH BARRIERS TO PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AMONG CARDIAC PATIENTS AT A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL, KARACHI, PAKISTAN: AN ANALYTICAL CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Background: Cardiac patients face numerous barriers that can restrict their ability to perform physical activity, making it of paramount importance to evaluate and address these barriers. However, no previous studies have been conducted in Pakistan regarding this phenomenon.

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of physical inactivity, perceived barriers and facilitators to physical activity, and factors related to those barriers among cardiac patients at a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan.

Methodology: An analytical cross-sectional quantitative study design was used on 344 cardiac patients from the Aga Khan University Hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. Data was collected by using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), Exercise Benefits/Barriers Scale (EBBS), and the Barriers to Appropriate Physical Activity in Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) Patients (BAPAC) scale.  Descriptive analysis was used to assess the prevalence of physical inactivity, perceived facilitators, and barriers to physical activity. Factors associated with barriers to physical activity were assessed by using the t-test for independent samples and one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA).

Results: The prevalence of physical inactivity among the cardiac patients was 46.2%. The overall mean facilitator score was 133.97 (SD ± 15.420). The overall mean barrier score by using EBBS was 57.62 (SD ± 8.720) and by using BAPAC was 41.53 (SD ± 6.528). There was a statistically significant association between prevalence rate, monthly income, educational status, previous episodes, and number of episodes of heart attack, substance abuse, and past medical history with the barriers to physical activity.

Conclusion: This study's findings shed light on the perceived barriers to physical activity among cardiac patients, emphasizing the need to assess physical activity levels and their barriers regularly. Implications should focus on developing strategies that can maximize the patient’s participation in physical activity and overcome those barriers to physical activity in cardiac patients.