Secondary prevention strategies for increasing physical activity in adults less than 80 years of age with coronary heart disease: what is the evidence for utilization of the transtheoretical model?

Coronary heart disease is a major cause of illness and death in Western countries. Coronary heart disease is associated with significant costs to the patient, society, and the health care system. Patients with coronary heart disease are a priority population for disease management primary health care providers are encouraged to focus on patients with coronary heart disease. Secondary prevention of major cardiovascular disease is recognized as a key component of a cost-effective public health strategy to reduce the rising burden of this disease. A sedentary lifestyle has been identified as an independent modifiable risk factor for coronary heart disease. Effective strategies for increasing physical activity in individuals with coronary heart disease have been acknowledged as successful secondary prevention interventions. This project is a systematic review of the literature to determine whether utilization of individualized behavioural counseling based on the Transtheoretical Model to increase physical activity in adults with coronary heart disease is effective. Systematic review of the literature provided evidence that supports the utilization of the Transtheoretical Model to understand predictors of physical activity, and its use in counseling approaches to increase physical activity in aduults with coronary heart disease or modifiable risk factors for coronary heart disease.