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An experimental assessment of the influence of exercise versus social implementation intentions on physical activity during and following pulmonary rehabilitation

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Abstract

Techniques to increase physical activity among pulmonary rehabilitation patients outside of the rehabilitation context are warranted. Implementation intentions are a strategy used to initiate goal-directed behaviour, and have been found to be useful in other populations. This study compared the long-term effects of exercise and social implementation intentions interventions on objectively measured physical activity in 40 pulmonary rehabilitation patients randomly assigned to condition. Repeated measures ANOVAs found that those in the exercise implementation intentions group took more steps (p = .007) at the end of pulmonary rehabilitation than those in the social implementation intentions group. Improvements attained by the exercise group during the intervention were not maintained 6-months following rehabilitation. Implementation intentions targeting physical activity appear to have positive short term effects on physical activity, although the long term effects are less consistent. This may be due in part to methods used to assess physical activity behaviour.

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Acknowledgments

Funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and the Alberta Lung Association.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada

    Wendy M. Rodgers, Anne-Marie Selzler & Siri Holm

  2. Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada

    Robert G. Haennel

  3. Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada

    Eric Y. L. Wong & Michael K. Stickland

  4. Centre for Lung Health (Covenant Health), Edmonton General Continuing Care Centre, Edmonton, AB, Canada

    Michael K. Stickland

Authors
  1. Wendy M. Rodgers
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  2. Anne-Marie Selzler
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  3. Robert G. Haennel
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  4. Siri Holm
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  5. Eric Y. L. Wong
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  6. Michael K. Stickland
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Correspondence to Anne-Marie Selzler.

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Rodgers, W.M., Selzler, AM., Haennel, R.G. et al. An experimental assessment of the influence of exercise versus social implementation intentions on physical activity during and following pulmonary rehabilitation. J Behav Med 37, 480–490 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-013-9503-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-013-9503-z

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