Exercise Motivation and Self-Efficacy Vary Among Patients with Heart Failure – An Explorative Analysis Using Data from the HF-Wii Study

Plain Language Summary

This study examined profiles in patients with heart failure regarding their motivation and confidence towards exercise. In total, 517 patients were divided into four groups based on their exercise motivation and confidence to exercise. The four groups were labelled as insecure avoiders (25%), laid-back strugglers (10%), conscientious self-doubters (42%) and determined achievers (22%). Patients’ profiles differ according to their motivations and confidence towards exercise. Most patients were conscientious self-doubters (high motivation and low confidence), and these patients suffered from more diseases and lower exercise capacity compared to the other groups, which could decrease their confidence in exercising. However, only half of the patients who were determined achievers (high motivation and high confidence) reached the recommended amount of physical activity per week (150 min exercise a week). This indicates that motivation and confidence are crucial determinants, but more factors are important for becoming more physically active.

Introduction

The health benefits of regular exercise in patients with heart failure (HF) are widely recognized, and exercise training is now a well-established therapy for patients with HF.^1,2 Regular exercise is safe, can decrease mortality,^3,4 and can improve exercise capacity and quality of life.^5,6 Despite the benefits and strong recommendations in the ESC guidelines,⁷ adherence to exercise recommendations is low (39%), and is lower than most other self-management activities such as adherence to diet (83%) or medication (higher than 90%).^8,9

There is growing evidence that crucial determinants of exercise adherence are self-efficacy and motivation. Self-efficacy refers to the belief in one’s ability to execute tasks in a given situation.^10,11 Self-efficacy is related to overcoming barriers to exercise, and has been specifically linked to exercise adherence and maintenance in patients with HF.^12–15 Barriers to exercise can be patient-related (eg, inadequate social support), social and economic factors, barriers in the health care team system (eg, only 10% of eligible HF patients receive a cardiac rehabilitation referral), condition-related factors (eg, experience of symptoms) or therapy-related factors (eg, enjoyment of exercise).^16–19 A lack of motivation can also be a barrier, and reduces the amount of exercise and exercise adherence in patients with HF.^15,20–22 Motivation is defined as the intrinsic determination towards goal attainment.²³ Self-efficacy is also known to mediate the relationship between motivation and exercise.^15,24 This means that even if a patient is motivated to exercise, the patient will not exercise if they do not feel confident about exercising. As self-efficacy and motivation influence each other and the amount of exercise in patients with HF, giving patient-centred care and personalizing exercise recommendations should be assessed.

We hypothesize that patients’ profiles differ in terms of motivation and self-efficacy. If profiles differ, these patients should receive different exercise advice or exercise help. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine patient profiles regarding their exercise motivation and self-efficacy.

Methods

The baseline data of patients with HF participating in the HF-Wii study²⁵ were analysed. The HF-Wii study is a physical activity trial assessing the effects of exergaming on submaximal exercise capacity. Patients were eligible for this study if they were diagnosed with HF, were older than 18 years of age, had no problems with mobility, balance or sight, or a severe cognitive dysfunction that could prohibit them from exergaming, had an estimated survival chance of more than six months, and did not have difficulties understanding or reading the language where this intervention took place. All patients provided informed consent.

The study was conducted according to the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki (2008) in accordance with the Medical Research Involving Human Subjects Act. In Sweden, ethical approval was obtained centrally (Etikprövningsmyndigheten DNR 2012/247-31). Additional approval was obtained from local review boards (the Netherlands: Ethics Review Committee azM/UM NL48647.068.14/METC141085; Italy: Comitato Etico Lazio 2 0052838/272/UVF/1; Israel: Institutional Review Board Rabin medical center 0022-13-RMC; Germany: Ethikkomission der Landesärztekammer Brandenburg S22(a)/2015; USA Institutional Review Board University of California, Irvine UCI IRB HS# 2016-2955). The trial was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01785121).

Measurements

Motivations were measured using the Exercise Motivation Index,²⁶ including 15 motivations with answers ranging from 0 (not important) to 4 (extremely important), with three subscales (physical, psychological and social motivations).

Self-efficacy was measured using the Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale,²⁷ including six possible barriers, with answers ranging from 1 (not confident about overcoming the barrier) to 10 (very confident about overcoming the barrier).

Self-reported physical activity was assessed with a single question:

Over the past week (even if it was not a typical week), how much time did you spend exercising or being physically active (e.g., strength training, walking, swimming, gardening or other type of training)?

With five possible answers: (1) No time, (2) Less than 30 minutes, (3) 30–60 minutes, (4) 1–3 hours and (5) More than three hours. More than three hours a week was recorded as physically active.

Additional data were collected on submaximal exercise capacity (six-minute walk test), symptoms of dyspnoea and fatigue (measured on a numeric rating scale from 0–10, with 0 meaning “not experienced any symptoms” and ten meaning “experienced worst possible symptoms”), anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale,²⁸ with a score of 7 or higher being seen as having depressive or anxiety symptoms), sleep (the Minimal Insomnia Symptom Scale,²⁹ with a cut-off score of six or higher on the scale being seen as having sleeping problems), cognition (Montreal Cognitive Assessment,³⁰ where a score of 18–25 was seen as having mild cognitive impairment, 10–17 as moderate cognitive impairment and less than ten as severe cognitive impairment), health-related quality of life (Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire,³¹ where the total score could range from zero to 105, with higher scores indicating more significant impairment on health-related quality of life) and well-being (Cantril’s ladder of life,³² measured on a numeric rating scale from 0–10).

Statistical Analyses

Only patients who had completed the measurements for exercise motivation and self-efficacy (517 of 605) were included in the current analysis. For presentation reasons, we dichotomized the total score for exercise self-efficacy. A total score below six was seen as low confidence in exercising, whereas a total score of equal to or higher than six was seen as having the confidence to exercise. The total score from the Exercise Motivation Index was also dichotomized. A total score lower than two was seen as low motivation to exercise, while a score of two or higher was seen as having the motivation to exercise.

Patients were divided into four groups. Insecure avoiders were those patients with low motivation and low confidence in exercising; laid-back strugglers were patients with low motivation but who had the confidence to exercise; conscientious self-doubters were patients who were motivated but had low confidence in exercising; and determined achievers were patients who were motivated and had the confidence to exercise (Figure 1).

Figure 1 Four groups based on their level of exercise motivation and exercise self-efficacy. Insecure avoiders are patients with low motivation and low confidence in exercising; laid-back strugglers are those with low motivation and confidence to exercise; conscientious self-doubters are those motivated but with low confidence in exercising; and determined achievers are those motivated and with confidence to exercise.

The patients’ profiles in each group were examined based on demographics and clinical characteristics, physical activity and exercise, symptoms, anxiety, depression, sleep, cognition, health-related quality of life, and well-being.

To describe the difference between the four groups in terms of motivation and self-efficacy, chi-square cross-tabulations and ANOVAs were conducted on the variables listed above.

When significant differences were observed between the groups, paired group differences were examined with post-hoc (Bonferroni) analyses with continuous variables. With categorical data, Chi-Square analyses were carried out to look at the differences between the paired groups. A p-value <0.008 was seen as significantly different, as corrected for six different comparisons (Supplement 1).

Results

The included 517 patients with HF had a mean age of 67 (±12). 71% were men (n = 342), and most of the patients were married or in a relationship (n = 371, 72%) (Table 1). Most patients were in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class I or II (69%, n = 405). There were no significant differences between the 517 patients included in this study and the 88 patients who were excluded due to incomplete values regarding age, gender or NYHA class.

Table 1 Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of Patients with Heart Failure Divided in Four Groups with Regard to Their Exercise Motivation and Self-Efficacy (n=517)

Exercise Motivation

In the group as a whole, the mean motivation per item was 2.32±0.88 and physical and psychological motivations were rated as the most important (2.66±0.88 and 2.51±0.92) (Table 2).

Table 2 Description of Motivation and Confidence to Exercise in the Whole Group (n = 517) and the Four Profile Groups

The most important physical motivation was “I want to be healthier and perhaps live longer” (80% of the patients rated this as important/very important), and the most important psychological motivation was “exercise increases my overall sense of well-being” (63% rated this as important/very important). However, social motivations were rated as the least important (mean 1.79±1.10), and 39% of the patients found it important “to be as active as my family and friends”.

Exercise Self-Efficacy

The mean total score for exercise self-efficacy was 5.02 (±1.98) (Table 2).

For every barrier on the self-efficacy scale, less than 50% of the patients were confident about overcoming them. Experienced barriers that were the most difficult to overcome were feeling physically fatigued (n = 173, 34%) and taking time for the family (n = 203, 39%).

Descriptions of Patients’ Profiles Regarding Motivation and Confidence in Exercising

Patients’ profiles were assessed regarding their exercise motivation and exercise self-efficacy (Figure 1). Table 1 reports the differences in demographic and clinical characteristics between these patient groups. Table 2 reports the differences in exercise motivation and confidence in exercising. The most notable differences in patient profiles between the groups are described for each group.

Insecure Avoiders: Low Exercise Motivation and Low Confidence

In this group, patients had low motivation (mean motivation was 1.38±0.42) and low confidence (a mean self-efficacy score of 3.71±1.30). This group represents 25% (n=130) of patients included in this study.

Patients in this group had low self-reported levels of physical activity, and only 26% exercised for more than three hours a week. They had a high exercise capacity, as these patients walked 416 metres (±132), which was significantly higher than the conscientious self-doubters (Table 1).

Patients in this group also reported low well-being (5.91 ± 2.03), which was significantly lower than patients who were motivated and were confident about exercising (group 4).

Laid-Back Strugglers: Low Exercise Motivation, but Confident

In this group, patients had low motivation (mean motivation was 1.50±0.34) but were confident about exercising (mean self-efficacy was 7.28±1.04). This group represented 10% (n=54) of the patients included in this study.

Forty percent of the patients in this group exercised for more than three hours a week. They had the highest exercise capacity compared to the other groups, walking 472 metres (±100), which was significantly higher than the conscientious self-doubters (Table 1).

This group of patients was significantly younger (46% ≥65 years old) than all the other groups, and were more often in NYHA class I or II (16%).

The group had the lowest number of comorbidities, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (11%) and depression (13%), and reported a low amount of anxiety (15%) and sleeping problems (12%). However, they reported the highest score for shortness of breath (5.13 ± 2.18). They also reported the highest quality of life scores (24.70 ± 18.87), both physically and emotionally.

Conscientious Self-Doubters: Motivated to Exercise, but Low Confidence

In this group, patients were motivated to exercise (mean motivation was 2.84±0.61) but had low confidence (mean self-efficacy was 4.04±1.24). This group represents 42% (n=217) of the patients included in this study.

In this group, 39% of the patients exercised for more than three hours a week, and their exercise capacity was the lowest (359±157 metres in the six-minute walk test).

Patients in this group were significantly older (69% ≥65 years old) and more often classified as NYHA III or IV (39%) than the other groups. One-third of the patients in this group suffered from depressive symptoms, 42% suffered from anxiety, 32% experienced sleeping problems and 25% had COPD. The patients in this group had the lowest quality of life (41.75 ± 22.29), in both the emotional and physical dimensions, and reported the lowest well-being (5.87 ± 1.95).

Determined Achievers: Motivated and Confident About Exercising

In this group, patients were both motivated (mean motivation 2.88±0.60) and confident about exercising (mean self-efficacy was 7.29±1.00). This group represents 22% (n=116) of the patients included in this study.

This group had the highest number of patients who were physically active, with half of the patients exercising for more than three hours a week. Patients in this group had a high exercise capacity, walking a mean of 424 (±135) metres in the six-minute walk test.

They reported the highest well-being (7.03 ± 1.67) and the lowest score for shortness of breath (4.05 ± 2.79).

Discussion

To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine the profiles of patients with heart failure based on their exercise motivation and self-efficacy.

Understanding patients’ motivations and self-efficacy is important in order to provide effective physical activity counselling and promotion. This study shows that patients’ profiles vary in terms of motivation and self-efficacy (confidence) to exercise. Many patients (64%) were motivated to become more physically active, and one-third were confident about exercising.

Most patients in this study (n=217, 36%) were highly motivated, but did not have the confidence to overcome barriers to exercise (conscientious self-doubters). These patients had a low exercise capacity, and only 40% were physically active (more than three hours a week, moderate to vigorous, physically active). Previous research has shown that for patients who are highly motivated but have no confidence in their ability to overcome barriers, it is unlikely that they will increase their physical activity.¹⁵

These findings imply that instead of mainly focusing on motivating patients to exercise, the first step should be to identify barriers to exercise and build confidence to tackle these barriers. Strategies that have been described as increasing self-efficacy in patients with HF are performing exercise gradually and graded mastery, applying vicarious experience (directly observing one’s own performance or someone else’s performance), providing feedback and persuasion for physical activity, symptom assessment, education, recognition and reinterpretation of HF symptoms, and problem-solving regarding barriers to physical activity.^33,34

Patients who were motivated to exercise but had low confidence (conscientious self-doubters) suffered from depressive symptoms and sleeping problems, decreasing their physical activity.³⁵ Treatment for HF comorbidities, such as sleeping problems, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney failure and depressive symptoms, will be necessary for patients’ exercise capacity and quality of life.³⁶ Still, 60% of these patients were in NYHA class I or II, which means that they experienced no HF symptoms or only mild HF symptoms while exercising. Including caregivers in future interventions to increase social support for exercise could enhance patients’ confidence in exercising.^37,38 Studies show that patients could be inspired by others (eg, other patients, friends or family) who were, or encouraged them to be, physically active.^39–41 They expressed that being physically active in a group made it easier to exercise, but having no social support made it difficult to participate in exercise.³⁹ This highlights the importance of the possibility for patients to include caregivers or exercise in a group to increase their confidence to exercise.

The patients who had low motivation to exercise but were confident about exercising (laid-back strugglers) reported the highest exercise capacity. However, only 39% reported being physically active for more than three hours a week. Compared with the other groups, the patients in this group were the youngest. Another study⁴⁰ confirms age differences in outcomes of cardiac rehabilitation programs. They found that middle-aged patients experience more improvement in physiologic as older-aged patients in the same cardiac rehabilitation program, suggesting that physical activity advice and cardiac rehabilitation should be age adapted. The laid-back strugglers also had the highest quality of life and well-being and the lowest symptoms of depression and anxiety. In motivating patients to become more physically active, the first step is to get them interested in physical activity. Our study showed that motivation might be different, and a general approach, such as “exercise is good for everybody”, will not increase physical activity. A patient can be motivated to avoid cardiovascular disease but not be interested in a physical activity intervention.⁴² Behavioural experience and self-regulation (goal setting, action planning, self-monitoring of behaviour, feedback on behaviour and problem-solving) are strategies to increase motivation and positive changes in physical activity.^43,44

Our findings showed that only one in five patients were motivated and confident about exercising (determined achievers). Among those patients with high motivation and high self-efficacy, only half were physically active for more than three hours a week. Factors other than motivation and self-efficacy are important for becoming more physically active. Patients might have experienced disease-specific barriers, such as side effects of medication or HF symptoms that prevent them from being more physically active. A lack of social support could be one explanation for not becoming more physically active.¹⁹ Offering these patients physical activity programmes where care-givers are included or physical activity programmes with other patients, for example within patient organizations, could increase social support.

One out of four patients in our study had low motivation and low self-efficacy (insecure avoiders). It is important to provide a broad intervention that includes both motivation and self-efficacy strategies, as only one-third of the patients in this group were physically active.

The results of this study can be used to tailor interventions to specific subgroups of patients. Various interventions studying enhancing exercise participation have consistently revealed limited evidence of long-term effects for patients with HF. Unfortunately, patients with the most to gain from exercise activity (especially older patients with more symptoms) are least likely to participate.^44,45 A major challenge in physical activity counselling and promotion is to provide clear feedback to individuals with personalized and meaningful information that motivates individuals to increase or sustain their physical activity.⁴⁶

It is important to have a meaning-centred existential perspective when advising cardiac patients about their physical activities, starting from their perceptions and exercise experiences concerning their heart disease.⁴⁷

One limitation of this study was that most of the patients were in NYHA class I or II (71%), and the results could only apply to patients with low symptom experience during physical activity. This could be due to the fact that this research only included patients with HF living at home.

Conclusions

Patient profiles differ according to their motivations and self-efficacy towards exercise. Most patients were motivated but did not have the confidence to become more physically active. These patients had more comorbidities and low exercise capacity, which could decrease their confidence in exercising. However, even among those patients who were motivated and confident about exercising, only half reached the recommended amount of weekly physical activity. This indicates that factors other than motivation and self-efficacy are also important in terms of becoming more physically active.