Results of the present study provide evidence that the TPB is a useful framework for understanding exercise intentions and adherence during phase II CR.

To determine whether barrier efficacy (i.e., confidence in one's ability to perform an elemental task under challenging conditions) mediated the gender-exercise adherence relationship in Phase II cardiac rehabilitation. Study Design and Participants: A questionnaire concerning 9 exercise barriers was administered to 98 Phase II cardiac rehabilitation patients (50 male and 48 female). Results: Men had significantly higher exercise adherence rates, F(1, 96) ϭ 7.22, p ϭ .01, effect size ϭ .53, and barrier efficacy, F(1, 95) ϭ 17.50, p Ͻ .001, effect size ϭ .79. Partial correlations demonstrated that barrier efficacy mediated the gender-exercise adherence relationship during Phase II rehabilitation. Specifically, men had significantly higher barrier efficacy overall and efficacy for overcoming (a) fear of having a cardiac event, (b) back pain, (c) medication side effects, (d) lack of time, (e) angina, and (f) the expense to exercise, which in turn was associated with higher exercise adherence during Phase II cardiac rehabilitation compared with women. Conclusion: Interventions should focus on building women's selfefficacy for overcoming specific exercise barriers during Phase II cardiac rehabilitation.Coronary heart disease (CHD) remains the leading cause of death in the United States. In 1997, there were 466,101 deaths attributed to coronary heart disease:

To evaluate the theory of planned behavior (TPB) as a framework for understanding exercise motivation during and after Phase 2 cardiac rehabilitation (CR). Design and Participants: Patients (57 men and 24 women) completed a TPB questionnaire that included attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and exercise intentions pre-and post-Phase 2 CR. Results: During Phase 2 CR, regression analyses indicated that attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control (PBC) explained 38% of the variance in exercise intention while intention explained 23% of the variance in exercise adherence. At postrehabilitation follow-up, attitudes, subjective norm, and PBC explained 51% of the variance in exercise intention while intention explained 23% of the variance in exercise adherence. Conclusion: The TPB is a useful framework for understanding exercise intentions and behavior both during and after Phase 2 CR.

The authors proposed to (a) determine the influence of phase II cardiac rehabilitation (CR) on task and barrier efficacy and mood in men and women, (b) determine the influence of task and barrier efficacy on postphase II CR exercise adherence, and (c) examine the bidirectional relationship between self-efficacy and mood. Fifty-seven men and 24 women completed task and barrier efficacy scales and the anxiety, depression, and vigor subscales 3 to 5 weeks before phase II CR, immediately before and after phase II CR, and 6 to 10 weeks after phase II CR. They found that the women had significantly larger increases in task and barrier efficacy from pre- to postphase II CR than the men did, whereas both men and women had a significant decline at follow-up. Men and women had a similar decrease in anxiety and an increase in vigor during phase II CR. However, vigor significantly declined at follow-up. All changes in mood were significantly related to changes in task and barrier efficacy.

Both aerobic and combined aerobic and resistance training are effective interventions to improve Vo(2peak) in compliant heart failure patients. Combined training may be more effective in improving muscle strength and endurance.