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Predictors of rehabilitation intention and behavior following anterior cruciate ligament surgery: an application of the Theory of Planned Behavior
Author(s) -
Niven A.,
Nevill A.,
Sayers F.,
Cullen M.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of medicine and science in sports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.575
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1600-0838
pISSN - 0905-7188
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0838.2010.01236.x
Subject(s) - rehabilitation , theory of planned behavior , physical therapy , anterior cruciate ligament , athletes , medicine , psychology , physical medicine and rehabilitation , surgery , control (management) , management , economics
This study was guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to assess the predictors of rehabilitation intention and adherence following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructive surgery in athletes. Participants ( n =87; mean age=28.95±7.7 years) volunteered to participate following their first post‐surgery physiotherapy session and completed the baseline measures of intention, attitudes, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, self‐efficacy, participation level, sport and age. At follow‐up, 48 participants returned completed rehabilitation diaries detailing adherence behavior every 2 weeks during an 8‐week period. Results indicated that there was no significant difference in rehabilitation behavior at weeks 2, 4, 6 or 8. A multivariate analysis of covariance indicated that sport type, sport level, intention and intention 2 significantly predicted rehabilitation behavior, although the strength of relationship varied across the weeks. Self‐efficacy was a significant predictor of intention. These findings suggest that adherence behavior is predicted by sport type, participation level and curvilinearly by intention to adhere. Intention to adhere can be positively associated with enhanced self‐efficacy. The study has highlighted issues that practitioners should be aware of when encouraging rehabilitation adherence. However, the TPB provided a poor fit for understanding adherence behavior in this setting.