Abstract
According to the Centers for Disease Control, heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States (Center for Disease Control, 2023). With heart disease being such a leading factor in morbidity, it is not an issue to be taken lightly when approaching how to reduce death rates and disease impaction. Heart disease is both preventable and treatable. A means for recovery from heart disease-related health events and prevention of further cardiovascular disease is cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs, where patients are monitored while exercising and assisted with rehabilitation and lifestyle modification. The goal of this research is to determine what factors contribute to patients choosing to remain participants in the maintenance phase for exercise offered through cardiac rehabilitation programs. Data was collected from survey administration at the Sutter Davis Hospital cardiac rehabilitation program, located in Davis, California. This study did not include statistical analysis, rather was a descriptive study. Phase three participants (those in the long-term maintenance phase of the program) were the focus population to gather feedback. It was concluded that the primary motivation for continued attendance and participation may be staff supervision and feelings of safety while exercising. Transportation seems to not be a limiting factor for participation of this sample population, as almost every survey participant reported driving themselves. Location in proximity to residence displayed that most patients lived within five to ten miles of the cardiac rehab program. The inclusion of a social aspect and the cost factor were of the least importance to this population. Limitations include a small sample size and data gathered from one population only. Future research would benefit from the inclusion of questioning patients on their employment status and living situation. Other beneficial aspects would be data from a psychological perspective, such as existing or a history of anxiety, depression, or perceived stress levels.