Examination Date

2023

Degree

Dissertation

Degree Program

Nursing (PhD)

Examination Committee

Demetrius Porche, Todd Tartavoulle, Kendra M. Barrier, Lee McDaniel, Ronald P. Koepke, Deborah Garbee

Abstract

Rural women are less likely to meet the recommended physical activity

guidelines, which leads to poor health outcomes such as cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Adherence to physical activity is critical in preventing CVD and recurring cardiac events.

Heart disease is one of Louisiana’s major diseases. In Louisiana, women ages 55 to 64

had the highest risk factors for CVD and heart attack. The purpose of this study was to

examine the impact of a 6-week text messaging intervention on the effects of physical

activity and physical activity self-efficacy among Northeast Louisiana women with

cardiovascular disease. A randomized controlled trial with a pretest-posttest design of

two groups (control and intervention) was the research design employed for this study.

Female subjects (N = 46) were recruited from the different parishes of Northeast

Louisiana and randomized into either the control group (n = 23) or the intervention group

(n = 23). Both groups were asked to complete the Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale (ESES)

during recruitment and at week 6. All subjects were expected to wear a pedometer and

self-report on a Daily Activity Log every day for 6-weeks. Subjects in the intervention

group received text messages as a targeted intervention to address personal, environment,

and behavior factors that can be challenging to women. Targeted text messages were

based on the concept of self-efficacy and theoretical constructs of the Social Cognitive

Theory. At the end of 6-weeks, the intervention group completed the Physical Activity

Effect Scale in addition to the ESES. The results of this study indicated text messaging

was not statistically significant when the pre-and post-ESES of the C-G were compared

to the pre-and post-ESES of the I-G (p = 0.28, t = -1.09, df = 44, Difference in M =

0.538); which could be due to the lack of an adequate amount of subjects. Although text

messaging did not significantly impact physical activity self-efficacy, the self-reported

positive comments on the daily activity logs or verbal statements indicated significant

findings that affected physical activity self-efficacy. The Physical Activity Effect Scale

evaluated how often the text message, pedometer, or literature influenced the intervention

group to be physically active during the 6-week study. Findings indicated the pedometer

was the most influential for physical activity. Physical activity adherence is a challenge

among women, and CVD increases by 40% due to increased risk factors such as physical

inactivity. Modifying lifestyle (personal, environment, and behaviors) changes to

decrease risk factors must be accepted by the individual and allows the individual to have

a positive self-efficacy to overcome barriers toward success. There is a recognized need

for strategies such as initiating the use of text messages, pedometers, and daily activity

logs to promote healthy behaviors for a better quality of life. This research represents a

further step toward focusing on women’s cardiovascular health, specifically in the Norhteast region of Louisiana.

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