# Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of exercise rehabilitation in patients following percutaneous coronary intervention

## TL;DR

This study found that patients after heart procedures have poor knowledge but good practices regarding exercise rehabilitation, with knowledge and attitudes influencing their behavior.

## Contribution

The study identifies factors influencing exercise rehabilitation practices and reveals direct and indirect relationships between knowledge, attitudes, and practices.

## Key findings

- Most patients had poor knowledge (48.27%) but good practices (48.55%) regarding exercise rehabilitation.
- Higher knowledge and attitude scores were associated with better practice scores.
- Structural Equation Modeling showed knowledge directly and indirectly influences practice through attitudes.

## Abstract

To investigate the current knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) status toward exercise rehabilitation in patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

This multi-center cross-sectional survey was conducted from March to May 2025 at three hospitals and enrolled patients who underwent PCI. It was conducted at Civil Aviation General Hospital in Beijing, the Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University in Shandong Province, and Tangta Hospital of Yuncheng County in Shanxi Province. A questionnaire was designed to collect participants’ demographic data and to assess KAP scores. The performance in each KAP dimension was categorized as poor (<60% of total score), moderate (60%–79%), or good (≥80%).

The final analysis included 346 valid questionnaires. The majority of participants demonstrated poor knowledge (167/346, 48.27%), whereas attitudes were predominantly moderate (176/346, 50.87%), and practices were largely good (168/346, 48.55%). The multivariable analysis showed that the knowledge scores (OR = 1.101, 95%CI: 1.024–1.185, P = 0.009), attitude scores (OR = 1.239, 95%CI: 1.134–1.355, P < 0.001), first PCI (OR = 2.354, 95%CI: 1.158–4.782, P = 0.018), and <1 month since the last PCI (OR = 2.400, 95%CI: 1.095–5.261, P = 0.029) were independently associated with proactive practice. The results of Structural Equation Modeling showed that knowledge directly influenced attitude (β = 0.518, P = 0.012) and practice (β = 0.432, P = 0.012). Attitude directly influenced practice (β = 0.444, P = 0.006). Knowledge indirectly influenced practice through its impact on attitude (β = 0.230, P = 0.008).

The findings suggest that patients who underwent PCI had poor knowledge but moderate attitudes and good practices toward exercise rehabilitation. Patients with higher knowledge and attitude scores were more likely to report better practice scores, indicating associations rather than causal relationships. Future studies should explore targeted interventions and more rigorous research designs to better understand and potentially enhance KAP related to exercise rehabilitation after PCI.