Giannoccaro, JustinAggarwal, SandeepGrace, SherryCampbell, Tavis S.Hauer, TrinaArena, RossRouleau, Codie R.2021-07-052021-07-052020-05Giannoccaro, Justin D. BSc; Aggarwal, Sandeep MD; Grace, Sherry L. PhD; Campbell, Tavis S. PhD; Hauer, Trina MSc; Arena, Ross PhD; Rouleau, Codie R. PhD; for the TotalCardiologyTM Research Network Factors Associated With Attendance at a 1-yr Post–Cardiac Rehabilitation Risk Factor Check, Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention: May 2020 - Volume 40 - Issue 3 - p E22-E25 doi: 10.1097/HCR.00000000000004861932-7501https://doi.org/10.1097/HCR.0000000000000486http://hdl.handle.net/10315/38403Purpose: Patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) often fail to maintain secondary prevention gains after completing cardiac rehabilitation (CR). Follow-up appointments aimed at assessing cardiac status and encouraging maintenance of health behaviors after CR completion are generally offered, but not well-attended. This study explored patient characteristics and barriers associated with non-attendance at a one-year follow-up visit following CR completion. Methods: Forty-five patients with CAD who completed a 12-week outpatient CR program but did not attend the one-year follow-up appointment were included. Participants responded to a survey consisting of open-ended questions about follow-up attendance, a modified version of the Cardiac Rehabilitation Barriers Scale, and self-report items regarding current health practices and perceived strength of recommendation to attend. Thematic analysis was used to derive categories from open-ended questionnaire responses. Linear regression was used to assess characteristics associated with appointment attendance barriers. Results: Barrier themes were: 1) lack of awareness, 2) perception of appointment as unnecessary, 3) practical or scheduling issues, 4) comorbid health issues, and 5) anticipated an unpleasant experience at the appointment. Greater self-reported barriers (M=1.97/5.00 ± 0.57) were significantly associated with lower perceived strength of recommendation to attend the follow-up appointment (M=2.82/5.00 ± 1.45), p=.005. Conclusions: Providing a stronger recommendation to attend, enhancing patient awareness, highlighting potential benefits, and supporting self-efficacy might increase one-year follow-up appointment attendance and, in turn, support long-term adherence to cardiovascular risk reduction behaviors.enThis is a non-final version of an article published in final form in: Giannoccaro, Justin D. BSc; Aggarwal, Sandeep MD; Grace, Sherry L. PhD; Campbell, Tavis S. PhD; Hauer, Trina MSc; Arena, Ross PhD; Rouleau, Codie R. PhD; for the TotalCardiologyTM Research Network Factors Associated With Attendance at a 1-yr Post–Cardiac Rehabilitation Risk Factor Check, Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention: May 2020 - Volume 40 - Issue 3 - p E22-E25 doi: 10.1097/HCR.0000000000000486 .adherenceattendancebarrierscardiac rehabilitationexercise maintenanceArticlehttps://journals.lww.com/jcrjournal/pages/default.aspxhttps://www.wolterskluwer.com/enhttps://journals.lww.com/jcrjournal/Abstract/2020/05000/Factors_Associated_With_Attendance_at_a_1_yr.13.aspx