Exercise participation decisions of Jordanian myocardial infarction patients: application of the decisional conflict theory

This study examined the utility of Janis and Mannʹs [Janis, I. L. & Mann, L. (1977). Decision making: a psychological analysis conflict, choice and commitment. New York, NY: Free press.] decisional conflict theory (DCT) in predicting decisions to exercise following hospitalization for a myocardial infarction (MI). A structured interview of operationalized DCT variables was conducted with 88 MI patients attending cardiology clinics in two Jordanian military hospitals. Stress was viewed as an indicator of exercise benefits–barriers decisional conflict. The findings revealed that the benefits–barriers interaction significantly predicted stress for the 48 patients who did not exercise. Rehospitalization for cardiac events was a significant predictor of stress for the 40 exercisers. Preinfarction exercise behavior, stress and gender were significant predictors of MI patientsʹ decisions to exercise. Results of this study indicated that decisional conflict and stress were characteristics of MI patients who delayed or avoided exercising.