An investigation of the relationship among quality of life, monitored exercise, perceived social support and power for men and women participating in a Phase II cardiac rehabilitation program

Rogers' science of unitary human beings provided the framework for this study, which explored the relationships among quality of life, monitored exercise, perceived social support, and power for men and women participating in cardiac rehabilitation. Participation in a Phase II cardiac rehabilitation program is recommended as a means of secondary prevention following a cardiac event, Cardiac rehabilitation programs offer monitored exercise and an opportunity to explore lifestyle options for risk-reduction. The purpose of this pretest/posttest design was not to show causality among variables, but to examine whether when one variable changes, a related change occurs in another variable.;Data were analyzed from 102 participants (66 men, 36 women) who met the inclusion criteria for the study and completed a treadmill exercise test pre and post program. Participants also completed three surveys pre and post program participation: Ferrans and Powers Quality of Life Index, Norbeck Social Support Questionnaire, and Barrett's Power as Knowing Participation in Change Tool. Various statistical methods were used to examine the main and interaction effects of the predictor variables (exercise, social support and power) on the criterion variable (quality of life).;While there were no statistically significant differences seen between men and women among the variables, there were significant differences in quality of life and monitored exercise within gender for men and women. There was a positive relationship between power and quality of life for both men and women, with power contributing to the variance in quality of life for both men and women pre and post program.;Cardiac rehabilitation programs do make a difference for men and women. It appears that Barrett's power theory may be the key to understanding this process. Further study of the power concept is suggested with a larger, more diverse cardiac rehabilitation population as well as comparison with other cardiac rehabilitation programs and with patients who do not participate.