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Predictors of Health Behavior Change After an Integrative Medicine Inpatient Program

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Abstract

Background

Health behavior change can improve physical and psychosocial outcomes in internal medicine patients.

Purpose

This study aims to identify predictors for health behavior change after an integrative medicine inpatient program.

Method

German internal medicine patients' (N = 2,486; 80 % female; 53.9 ± 14.3 years) practice frequency for aerobic exercise (e.g., walking, running, cycling, swimming), meditative movement therapies (e.g., yoga, tai ji, qigong), and relaxation techniques (e.g., progressive relaxation, mindfulness meditation, breathing exercises, guided imagery) was assessed at admission to a 14-day integrative medicine inpatient program, and 3, 6, and 12 months after discharge. Health behavior change was regressed to exercise self-efficacy, stage of change, and health locus of control (internal, external-social, external-fatalistic).

Results

Short-term increases in practice frequency were found for aerobic exercise: short- and long-term increases for meditative movement therapies and relaxation techniques (all p < 0.01). After controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, clinical characteristics, and health status, exercise self-efficacy or interactions of exercise self-efficacy with stage of change predicted increased practice frequency of aerobic exercise at 6 months; of meditative movement therapies at 3 and 6 months; and of relaxation techniques at 3, 6, and 12 months (all p < 0.05). Health locus of control predicted increased practice frequency of aerobic exercise at 3 months and of relaxation techniques at 3, 6, and 12 months (all p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Health behavior change after an integrative medicine inpatient program was predicted by self-efficacy, stage of change, and health locus of control. Considering these aspects might improve adherence to health-promoting behavior after lifestyle modification programs.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank all physicians, nurses, staff members, and patients for their help in data collection. This study was part of a quality assurance program and supported by a research grant from the Karl and Veronica Carstens Foundation, Essen, Germany.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal and Integrative Medicine, Kliniken Essen-Mitte, Faculty of Medicine, University of Duisburg-Essen, Am Deimelsberg 34a, 45276, Essen, Germany

    Holger Cramer, Romy Lauche, Jost Langhorst, Gustav Dobos & Anna Paul

  2. Institute for Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, University Hospital of Essen, Essen, Germany

    Susanne Moebus

  3. Department of Internal and Complementary Medicine, Immanuel Hospital Berlin, Berlin, Germany

    Andreas Michalsen

Authors
  1. Holger Cramer
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  2. Romy Lauche
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  6. Gustav Dobos
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  7. Anna Paul
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Correspondence to Holger Cramer.

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Cramer, H., Lauche, R., Moebus, S. et al. Predictors of Health Behavior Change After an Integrative Medicine Inpatient Program. Int.J. Behav. Med. 21, 775–783 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-013-9354-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-013-9354-6

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