This study adopted an experimental design with using a nonequivalent, posttest only control group to study the rehabilitation outcomes of 152 persons who received cardiac surgery. 37 subjects in a rehabilitation group participated in a 2-mo. exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation programme, and another 115 subjects who did not attend the programme formed the control group. The subjects' self-esteem was measured on the Adult Source of Self-esteem Inventory by Elvoson and Fleming, and their mobility skill was measured by a simple mobility test based on New York Heart Association Classification. Analysis of covariance (with covariance analysis of the subjects' age, years of education, occupational skill, and mobility skill) indicated that the experimental group scored higher on positive self esteem and showed significantly better improvement in mobility skill. The exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation programme positively affected physical and psychological outcomes. Also, subjects' self-esteem was significantly correlated with their mobility skills (r=.21, p<.05) among those aged under 60 years (n=96) but not among those aged 60 or above (n=53).

We studied the effect of an exercise-based pulmonary rehabilitation program for persons with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Effects of a complemented video-modeling strategy were studied and compared to the control group which adopted behavioral training strategies in the exercise program only. Eleven patients with COPD received a 1-month (3 times per week) behavioral exercise program with video modeling. Another 11 patients participated in a control group which performed the same exercise without video modeling. The patients' exercise intensity was monitored by prestudy stress tests to ensure that the participants were all having a comparable level of submaximal exercise. They participated in an exercise program which included gradual upgrading of walking on the treadmill, or cycling, and a 5-point rating scale assessed their performance level. Their self-efficacy was assessed by using an exercise self-efficacy scale complemented with open-ended questions to elicit their viewpoints on factors affecting their exercise performance, including the video modeling strategy. From the results, both groups showed statistic-ally significant improvement in exercise performance and self-efficacy. Participants in the video-modeling group showed greater -though

This study adopted an experimental design with using a nonequivalent, posttest only control group to study the rehabilitation outcomes of 152 persons who received cardiac surgery. 37 subjects in a rehabilitation group participated in a 2-mo. exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation programme, and another 115 subjects who did not attend the programme formed the control group. The subjects' self-esteem was measured on the Adult Source of Self-esteem Inventory by Elvoson and Fleming, and their mobility skill was measured by a simple mobility test based on New York Heart Association Classification. Analysis of covariance (with covariance analysis of the subjects' age, years of education, occupational skill, and mobility skill) indicated that the experimental group scored higher on positive self esteem and showed significantly better improvement in mobility skill. The exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation programme positively affected physical and psychological outcomes. Also, subjects' self-esteem was significantly correlated with their mobility skills (r=.21, p<.05) among those aged under 60 years (n=96) but not among those aged 60 or above (n=53).