Abstract Background and Purpose: The practice of physical activity is important for improving the health. Several studies suggested that the people who reported that they do not practice physical activity have a greater likelihood of exhibiting symptoms of depression and anxiety when compared with those who reported practicing postoperative physical activity on a regular basis. Therefore our study aims to observe the influence of exercise in illness perception on cardiac surgery patients. Methods: A sample of 80 subjects (50 males and 30 females), aged 20-70 years old were selected from large population based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria of the study. The follow-up cardiac surgery subjects were observed for post operative exercise activities, which they were already prescribed. The patients who did regularly exercises taken in Group-1 and those who were non-compliant (unable to do exercises) taken in Group-2. Results: The compliant group caused significant positive changes in patients’ view of their illness. Patients in the compliant group also reported that they had better recovery and reduced the effect of symptoms of illness at significantly faster rather than the non-compliant group. There is a significant difference in between the two groups. Discussion and Conclusion: Altogether, these results suggest that people who do not practice postoperative regular exercise have a higher chance of exhibiting symptoms of distress, anger, fear and depression. So their illness perception is increased as compare to compliant group. However, the illness beliefs are significantly associated with the symptoms. The Brief IPQ could provide an ideal platform to determine illness perception as a part of recovery assessment in cardiac surgery patients.
Keywords: Physical Activity; Cardiac Surgery; Exercises; Illness Perceptions; Brief-IPQ.