" I don't have the heart" : A qualitative study of barriers to and facilitators of physical activity for people with coronary heart disease and depressive symptoms

Abstract

Background: Physical activity has been shown to reduce depression in people with coronary heart disease (CHD), however many people with CHD do not engage in sufficient levels of physical activity to reap its positive effects. People with depression and CHD are at particular risk of non-adherence to physical activity. Little is known about the barriers to and facilitators of physical activity for people with CHD and depressive symptoms. Using qualitative interviews, the aim of this study was to explore the barriers to and facilitators of physical activity for cardiac patients with depressive symptoms.Methods: Fifteen participants with CHD and depressive symptoms (assessed using the Cardiac De..