The Mediating Effect of Perceived Control Between Perceived Health Competence and Kinesiophobia in Elderly Patients after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.

Objective: To investigate the status quo of control attitudes, perceived health competence, and kinesiophobia in elderly patients with coronary disease after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), and to explore the mediating role of control attitudes in perceived health competence and fear of exercise.

Methods: By a convenient sampling method, 206 elderly patients with coronary heart disease who underwent CABG for the first time in the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from June 1, 2021, to April 4, 2023, were investigated by using a general information questionnaire, the Perceived Health Competence Scale and Revised Control Attitudes Scale, and the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia to investigate the level of perceived health competence, perceived control, and kinesiophobia.

Results: Perceived health competence, control attitudes, and kinesiophobia scores were 25.47 (3.11), 26.18 (2.85), 44.64 (3.24) (25.47 ± 3.11, P < .05), (26.18 ± 2.85, P < .05), and (44.64 ± 3.24, P < .05) in elderly patients after CABG. Control attitudes had a partial mediating effect between perceived health competence and fear of exercise (β = -0.3382, P < .001). The proportion of effect was 35.27%.

Conclusion: The levels of perceived control and perceived health competence of elderly patients after CABG were low, while the level of kinesiophobia was high. Kinesiophobia in patients is directly affected by perceived health competence or is indirectly affected through perceived control, which is an important direction for future kinesiophobia interventions.