Self-efficacy for exercise in cardiac rehabilitation: review and recommendations.

Despite the numerous physical and psychosocial benefits of exercise for coronary heart disease survivors, non-adherence to cardiac rehabilitation (CR) exercise is a major problem. Adherence to the lifestyle behavior change associated with CR involves both physical and self-regulatory skills. While self-regulatory efficacy is clearly linked to exercise adherence and adjustment, the literature on the relationship between self-efficacy and exercise among CR participants has not been systematically reviewed. A search of relevant databases identified 41 CR studies. Few studies measured self-regulatory efficacy for actions that facilitate adherence. Most studies examined self-efficacy during the intensive center-based phase of CR, with little attention to long-term maintenance. The CR literature could benefit by examining (a) self-efficacy as a major rehabilitation outcome, (b) measurement of self-regulatory efficacy for behavior change, (c) suspected moderators of self-efficacy (i.e. gender, age), and (d) self-efficacy relative to maintenance.