Effects of a preoperative individualized exercise program on selected recovery variables for cardiac surgery patients: A pilot study

Objective: Research on preoperative individualized exercise prescription (PIEP) for heart surgery patients in Taiwan is lacking. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility of a PIEP in the Taiwanese population. Method: A quasi-experimental design, using purposive sampling, was conducted. Thirty-five patients were recruited, of whom 15 chose to participate in the experimental (PIEP training plus usual care) group, and 20 chose to participate in the control (usual care) group. The effects of the intervention were determined by pulmonary complication-related parameters and quality of life. Results and conclusion: The development and process of PIEPs suitable for cardiac patients was described in this study. The results reveal that the two-week exercise-training program contributed to a decreased peak respiratory exchange ratio (RER) after the surgery and earlier ambulation. The effectiveness of PIEPs in improving the quality of life in cardiac surgery patients was validated. This study may also contribute as a reference of the PIEP effect on patients to the healthcare providers.