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Natalie A Johnson,1–4 Ben Ewald,1–4 Ronald C Plotnikoff,3 Fiona G Stacey,1–4 Wendy J Brown,5 Mark Jones,1,4 Elizabeth G Holliday,1,4 Erica L James1–4 1School of Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia; 2Priority Research Centre in Health Behaviour, University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia; 3Priority Research Centre in Physical Activity and Nutrition, University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia; 4Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia; 5Centre for Research on Exercise, Physical Activity and Health, School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia Background: General practitioners (GPs) cite time as a barrier to physical activity counseling. An alternative for time-poor GPs in Australia is the referral of insufficiently active patients to exercise physiologists (EPs). As data on the predictors of adherence to physical activity counseling interventions are limited, this study aimed to identify the sociodemographic, medical, health, and psychological characteristics of insufficiently active primary care patients who adhered to a physical activity counseling intervention delivered by EPs. Methods: This secondary analysis of data from the NewCOACH randomized trial used logistic regression to identify predictors of adherence, defined as patient participation in at least four of the five physical activity counseling sessions. EPs provided information about the number of sessions, while other potential predictors were obtained from the self-administered baseline questionnaire and medical summary sheets provided by the GPs. Results: Of the 132 patients referred to an EP, 102 (77%) were adherent: 91 (69%) and eleven (8.3%) participated in all, or all but one, of the sessions, respectively. Of the remainder, seven (5.3%) patients participated in three sessions, seven (5.3%) participated in two sessions, five (3.8%) participated in one session, and eleven (8.3%) did not participate in any session. The odds of being adherent were 5.84 (95% CI 1.46–23.4, P≤0.05) times higher among retired participants than in those who were not in paid employment. The odds of being adherent 1) increased as the positive outcome expectation score increased (OR 1.89, 95% CI 1.12–3.18, P≤0.05) and 2) decreased as the duration (days) between referral and the initial counseling session increased (OR 0.95, 95% CI 0.92–0.98, P

Objective: The increasing prevalence of obesity among youth has elicited calls for schools to become more active in promoting healthy weight. The present study examined associations between various aspects of school food environments (specifically the availability of snack- and beverage-vending machines and the presence of snack and beverage logos) and students' weight status, as well as potential influences of indices of diet and food behaviours.Design: A cross-sectional, self-administered web-based survey. A series of multinomial logistic regressions with generalized estimating equations (GEE) were constructed to examine associations between school environment variables (i.e. the reported presence of beverage- and snack-vending machines and logos) and self-reported weight- and diet-related behaviours.Setting: Secondary schools in Alberta, Canada.Subjects: A total of 4936 students from grades 7 to 10.Results: The presence of beverage-vending machines in schools was associated with the weight status of students. The presence of snack-vending machines and logos was associated with students' frequency of consuming vended goods. The presence of snack-vending machines and logos was associated with the frequency of salty snack consumption.Conclusions: The reported presence of snack- and beverage-vending machines and logos in schools is related to some indices of weight status, diet and meal behaviours but not to others. The present study supported the general hypothesis that the presence of vending machines in schools may affect students' weight through increased consumption of vended goods, but notes that the frequency of 'junk' food consumption does not seem to be related to the presence of vending machines, perhaps reflecting the ubiquity of these foods in the daily lives of students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: To examine predictors of physical activity (PA) 6 months after a randomized controlled trial. METHODS: Breast cancer survivors (N=377) completed assessments at baseline, postintervention, and 6 months after the intervention. Data were collected on demographic, medical, psychosocial, motivational, and behavioral variables at baseline, postintervention, and 6 months. RESULTS: Survivors meeting PA guidelines at baseline (OR = 5.54, 95% CI = 2.99-9.82, P < 0.001) and postintervention (OR = 2.92, 95% CI = 1.63-5.23, P < 0.001) had a greater likelihood of meeting PA guidelines at 6 months follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Interventions promoting PA maintenance should focus on optimizing PA behavior, psychosocial functioning, and motivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to examine the Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) to predict physical activity (PA) behaviour in a large, population-based sample of adults. One thousand six hundred and two randomly selected individuals completed two telephone interviews over two consecutive six-month periods assessing PMT constructs. PMT explained 35 per cent and 20 per cent of the variance in intention and behaviour respectively. Coping cognitions as moderators of threat explained 1 per cent of the variance in intention and behaviour. Age and gender as moderators of threat did not provide additional variance in the models. We conclude that salient PMT predictors (e.g. self-efficacy) may guide the development of effective PA interventions in the general population. Copyright © 2009 SAGE Publications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the overall diet quality of a sample of adolescents living in Alberta, Canada, and evaluate whether diet quality, nutrient intakes, meal behaviours (i.e. meal skipping and consuming meals away from home) and physical activity are related.Design: A cross-sectional study design. Students completed the self-administered Web-Survey of Physical Activity and Nutrition (Web-SPAN). Students were classified as having poor, average or superior diet quality based on Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating (CFGHE).Setting: One hundred and thirty-six schools (37 %) within forty-four public and private school boards (75 %) in Alberta, Canada.Subjects: Grade 7 to 10 Alberta students (n 4936) participated in the school-based research.Results: On average, students met macronutrient requirements; however, micronutrient and fibre intakes were suboptimal. Median CFGHE food group intakes were below recommendations. Those with poor diet quality (42 %) had lower intakes of protein, fibre and low-calorie beverages; higher intakes of carbohydrates, fat and Other Foods (e.g. foods containing mostly sugar, high-salt/fat foods, high-calorie beverages, low-calorie beverages and high-sugar/fat foods); a lower frequency of consuming breakfast and a higher frequency of consuming meals away from home; and a lower level of physical activity when compared with students with either average or superior diet quality.Conclusions: Alberta adolescents were not meeting minimum CFGHE recommendations, and thus had suboptimal intakes and poor diet quality. Suboptimal nutritional intakes, meal behaviours and physical inactivity were all related to poor diet quality and reflect the need to target these health behaviours in order to improve diet quality and overall health and wellness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the prevalence, clustering, age trends, and gender differences of chronic-disease related risk factors among a large sample of adolescents (N = 4932) in Alberta, Canada. Approximately 43% of boys and 53% of girls displayed two or more risk factors. Age trends and gender differences were also observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Goals Of Work: Although exercise has gained recognition as an effective supportive care intervention for cancer survivors, exercise participation rates are low. The present study examined the determinants of exercise in bladder cancer survivors using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB).Patients and Methods: Bladder cancer survivors (N = 397) residing in Alberta, Canada completed a mailed questionnaire at baseline that assessed demographic, medical, behavioral, and social cognitive variables and a second questionnaire 3 months later that assessed exercise. Multiple regression was the primary analysis.Main Results: Adjuvant therapy (r = -0.10, p = 0.021), cancer invasiveness (r = -0.10, p = 0.051), and age (r = -0.11, p = 0.037) were all negatively associated with exercise. Intention (beta = 0.25, p < 0.001), perceived behavioral control (beta = 0.18, p = 0.001), and planning (beta = 0.12, p = 0.018) explained 20.9% of the variance in exercise over a 3-month period. Perceived behavioral control (beta = 0.32, p < 0.001), affective attitude (beta = 0.18, p = 0.002), instrumental attitude (beta = 0.15, p = 0.025) and descriptive norm (beta = 0.10, p = 0.032) explained 39.1% of the variability in exercise intention. Constructs from the TPB mediated the associations between adjuvant therapy, cancer invasiveness, age, and exercise. Age and adjuvant therapy also moderated some of the associations within the TPB.Conclusions: Some medical and demographic variables predict exercise behavior in bladder cancer survivors, but these associations are mediated by the TPB. Interventions based on the TPB may be effective for promoting exercise in this cancer survivor population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Most of the population have positive intentions to engage in physical activity (PA) but fail to act; thus, the need to understand successful translation of intention into behavior is warranted in order to focus intervention efforts.Purpose: The objective of the study is to examine constructs of the transtheoretical model, theory of planned behavior, and protection motivation theory as predictors of physical activity intention-behavior profiles across 6 months in a Canadian workplace sample.Methods: Employees from three large organizations in the province of Alberta (n = 887) completed a baseline survey relating to their demographic and medical background, PA, and social-cognitive constructs. A total of 611 participants completed a second assessment 6 months later.Results: Participants were grouped by five profiles: nonintenders, unsuccessful adopters, successful adopters, unsuccessful maintainers, and successful maintainers. Perceived importance and concern for PA (cognitive processes, instrumental attitude, perceived severity) distinguished nonintenders from the other four profiles, self-management and self-regulation of the behavior (behavioral processes, self-efficacy) distinguished successful adopters from unsuccessful adopters, while control over constraints (cons, perceived control, self-efficacy) were the key discriminators of successful maintainers from unsuccessful maintainers.Conclusion: The results provide useful information for intervention campaigns and demonstrate a need to consider adoption and maintenance profiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate medical, demographic, and psychosocial correlates of exercise in colorectal cancer survivors (CRC-S) using self-determination theory (SDT).Methods: Participants were 414 CRC-S who completed a mailed survey that assessed self-reported exercise, medical and demographic variables, and SDT constructs consisting of behavioral regulation for exercise, psychological needs satisfaction in exercise (PNSE), and perceived autonomy support (PAS).Results: CRC-S with less education were significantly less likely to meet exercise guidelines (21 vs 31%; p < 0.001). Path analysis indicated that SDT and education explained 16% of the variance in exercise behavior with identified regulation (beta = 0.17, p = 0.031), introjected regulation (beta = 0.14, p = 0.006), and education (beta = 0.16, p < 0.001) each making a significant independent contribution.Conclusions: Few medical and demographic factors are correlates of regular exercise in CRC-S, but SDT provided a good understanding of exercise behavior in this population. Exercise behavior change interventions incorporating principles of SDT may have utility for promoting exercise and improving outcomes in this important population of cancer survivors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: To identify demographic, health, and behavioral factors associated with smoking behavior in adults with diabetes. METHODS: Canadian adults 18+ years with type 1 (n=697) or type 2 (n=1621) were investigated. Logistic regression analyses were conducted separately for both diabetes subgroups. RESULTS: When comparing never versus ever smokers, never versus current smokers, and former smokers who quit versus current smokers, similarities and differences for demographic, health, and behavioral factors were found for the 2 diabetes subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes type, demographic, health, and behavioral factors should be considered when tailoring smoking cessation and prevention programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore (1) patterns in physical activity behaviors and (2) the meaning and personal significance of social cognitive theory (SCT) constructs on physical activity, across gender and income groups among people with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). METHODS: Albertans, 18 years and older (x- = 63, SD = 12.08) with T2DM (N = 1614) completed self-report measures of demographic characteristics and physical activity. Two-way, between-groups analyses of variance (ANOVAs) assessed main and interaction effects of gender and income on leisure time physical activity (LTPA). A subsample of these participants (n = 20) subsequently completed qualitative telephone interviews to provide contextual understanding of the quantitative data and to explore salient SCT influences on physical activity. RESULTS: Significant findings indicated that men participate in more LTPA than women do, and those from the highest income group participate in more LTPA than low- or middle-income groups (P < .01). Interview results suggested that walking is the most popular form of physical activity; however, gender and income groups differ in other leisure and nonleisure physical activities. Furthermore, patterns for SCT constructs related to physical activity were apparent across gender and income, most noticeably for self-efficacy and environmental and situational influences. Specifically among men, noteworthy differences existed between income groups for self-control and reinforcement strategies. CONCLUSIONS: The study highlights the need for more sensitive self-report measures and objective measures of physical activity to help distinguish whether true differences exist between certain demographic groups. Moreover, interventions that promote walking may be beneficial for people with T2DM, provided that appropriate environmental and policy changes occur to accommodate walking and other physical activity behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To investigate the utility of the protection motivation theory (PMT), social-cognitive theory (SCT) and transtheoretical model's (TTM) processes of change (POC) by (1) discriminating between TTM's stages with planned comparisons and (2) examining higher-ordered trends across stages. Methods: 1582 individuals were included in the analyses that tested severity, vulnerability, response-efficacy, self-efficacy, POC, pros and cons, social and environmental support. Results: The findings provide evidence for the utility of the PMT and TTM's POC for stage discrimination; stage discontinuity patterns are supported. Conclusions: Promotion of health behavior should target stage-specific variables, such as threat appraisals for early stage movements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The purpose of this study was to validate measures of individual and organisational infrastructure for health promotion within Alberta's (Canada) 17 Regional Health Authorities (RHAs).Design A series of phases were conducted to develop individual and organisational scales to measure health promotion infrastructure. Instruments were designed with focus groups and then pre-tested prior to the validation study.Setting In 1993 all hospitals and Public Health Units in the province of Alberta were regionalised into 17 RHAs, with responsibility for public health, community health, and acute and long-term care. While regionalisation may offer more opportunity for community participation, reorganisation of the public health system may have fragmented and diluted resources and skills for heart health promotion in some RHAs. Infrastructure (for example, human and financial resources), amongst other items, is believed to contribute to the capacity to promote health. Method All 17 RHAs participated in the study, yielding a total of 144 individuals (that is board members, senior/middle management, and front line staff). These representative employees completed a self-administered questionnaire on individual- and organisational-level infrastructure measures.Results Psychometric analyses of survey data provided empirical evidence for the robustness of the measures. Principal component analyses verified the construct validity of the scales, with alpha coefficients ranging from 0.75 to 0.95.Conclusion The scales can be used by health professionals and researchers to assess individual- and organisational-level infrastructure, and tailor interventions to increase infrastructure for health promotion in health organisations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to derive a conceptual model of community capacity development for health promotion based on the 5-year demonstration phase of the Alberta Heart Health Project. METHOD: Community actions associated with successful implementation and uptake of initiatives in four diverse target sites were identified by case study evaluation. RESULTS: Thirteen common elements of capacity development were found across the projects and categorized to define three primary dimensions of the process: (a) leadership that provided a driving force for implementation, (b) policy making that ensured diffusion and sustainability, and (c) use of local community resources and infrastructure. A conceptual model was constructed using these 3 dimensions and their interactions. CONCLUSION: Effective implementation of community health initiatives to promote heart health can be conceptualized as the involvement of local leadership, policy advocacy, and enhancement of existing infrastructure. The model highlights building these dimensions of community capacity development for health promotion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: More information is needed to document the prevalence of health risk factors in youth. The purpose of this study is to compare the prevalence of physical inactivity, smoking and overweight/obesity among youth in urban and rural schools.Methods: Data were obtained from a Student Physical Activity and Smoking Survey of 2,697 high school students in four urban schools in Ontario and four rural schools in Alberta. Prevalence of physical inactivity was assessed by examining compliance with Canada's Physical Activity Guide to Healthy Active Living, and with daily energy expenditure classification values. Prevalence of smoking was assessed by examining current smoking status. Overweight and obesity prevalences were examined by comparing BMI values to the BMI index for age and sex percentiles set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Results: Physical activity prevalence was found to be low in our study, with only 57.0% of youth achieving Canada's Physical Activity Guidelines, and with 26.0% classified as sedentary based on the daily energy expenditure classification values. A higher proportion of rural students reported "trying smoking" than urban school students (73.0% versus 64.4%, p<0.001). A significantly higher proportion of rural males were 'overweight' than urban males, and a significantly higher proportion of rural females were 'obese' in comparison to urban females.Conclusion: Our findings add further support for an urgent need to promote physical activity among Canadian youth. Additionally, our results suggest that it is especially important to target rural students, particularly girls, for smoking prevention programs. Future studies are required to examine such rural and urban differences within provinces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The workplace is a pivotal setting for promoting physical activity, yet the published literature suggests workplace interventions have not been overly successful at attracting and maintaining participants and increasing employee physical activity. An Active Living approach has recently been proposed to increase physical activity at the population level. The purpose of this study was to assess practitioners ' perspectives on Active Living in the workplace. Fifty-seven practitioners across 21 organizations participated in semi-structured interviews or focus groups on (a) practitioners' understanding of workplace Active Living, (b) the determinants of Active Living at work, and (c) practitioners' information and service needs. A grounded theory approach was employed to identify themes. Recommendations are provided from the findings to enhance the implementation of Active Living in the workplace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To test the relative utility of social support and subjective norm for predicting exercise intention and stage within the theory of planned behavior. Methods: A population-based community sample of 1557 adults completed a telephone interview that assessed social support, subjective norm, attitude, perceived behavioral control, intention, and stage. Results: Social support was superior to subjective norm in predicting exercise intention and stage after controlling for the theory of planned behavior and demographic variables. Conclusion: If findings are replicated, the theory of planned behavior should consider replacing subjective norm with social support given the theory's currently stated boundary conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors associated with exercise behavior among adults with diabetes. METHODS: Exercise behavior (stage of exercise readiness and energy expenditure) and potential determinants were measured on a subsample (n-46) of adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes from a randomized population-based telephone survey. Participants were assessed at baseline and at a 6-month follow-up. RESULTS: Sociodemographic and biomedical characteristics did not significantly differ between the stages of exercise behavior. Scores on the psychosocial constructs of self-efficacy, behavioral processes, self-concept, and social support were significantly higher for those in the action stage than those in the preaction stage of exercise readiness. Self-efficacy and behavioral process of change were significantly associated with energy expenditure; self-efficacy was the strongest predictor in the longitudinal analysis. CONCLUSIONS: These findings may generate direction for theory development and guide health and medical practitioners when intervening on the specific constructs. Population- and community-based surveys have utility for assessing diabetes health-related behavior (eg, exercise behavior). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The primary aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of three physical activity (PA) behavioural intervention strategies in a sample of adults with type 2 diabetes.Method/design: Participants (N = 287) were randomly assigned to one of three groups consisting of the following intervention strategies: (1) standard printed PA educational materials provided by the Canadian Diabetes Association [i.e., Group 1/control group)]; (2) standard printed PA educational materials as in Group 1, pedometers, a log book and printed PA information matched to individuals' PA stage of readiness provided every 3 months (i.e., Group 2); and (3) PA telephone counseling protocol matched to PA stage of readiness and tailored to personal characteristics, in addition to the materials provided in Groups 1 and 2 (i.e., Group 3). PA behaviour measured by the Godin Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire and related social-cognitive measures were assessed at baseline, 3, 6, 9, 12 and 18-months (i.e., 6-month follow-up). Clinical (biomarkers) and health-related quality of life assessments were conducted at baseline, 12-months, and 18-months. Linear Mixed Model (LMM) analyses will be used to examine time-dependent changes from baseline across study time points for Groups 2 and 3 relative to Group 1.Discussion: ADAPT will determine whether tailored but low-cost interventions can lead to sustainable increases in PA behaviours. The results may have implications for practitioners in designing and implementing theory-based physical activity promotion programs for this population.Clinical Trials Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00221234. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Internet is a potential medium to attain large groups of Canadians for physical activity monitoring and interventions, however, little is known about the characteristics of participants who could be recruited on a national level. Our objectives were to determine: 1) the extent to which our sample was representative of the Canadian population; 2) the demographic, social-cognitive and physical activity behaviour, and environmental characteristics of one-time and multi-time users of the Canada on the Move website; and 3) whether certain recruitment strategies were more likely to reach specific demographic subgroups.Methods: Web-based self-report measures were collected on demographic, social-cognitive, physical activity behaviour, and environmental factors. Descriptive statistics were employed to address the study's research objectives.Results: Significant differences (p<0.001) were found between our total sample and 2001 Canadian census/Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) data on all demographic and physical activity behaviour measures. One-time and multi-time users significantly differed on age (p<0.005) and being responsible for children under age 13 (p=0.01). No differences existed between the groups on any of the social-cognitive, behavioural or environmental variables. Source of knowledge about the Canada on the Move website between one-time and multi-time users was not significantly different.Conclusion: The Canada on the Move website presents a viable approach to reaching diverse demographic groups. Further work needs to be undertaken to: 1) develop engaging websites; 2) detail the monitoring of the web-based access information; 3) integrate the website with other organizations promoting physical activity; and 4) expand the number of recruitment sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The purposes of this study were to: 1) explore the potential role of sex in the association between the perceived environment and walking; and 2) determine the efficacy of an Internet-based research platform for collecting population-level physical activity and correlates data.Methods: Visitors to the Canada on the Move website were asked questions about their demographics, physical activity participation and perceptions of their neighbourhood environment. A total of 3,144 Canadians (2,036 women; 609 men) completed the survey. Level of walking was regressed on eight measures of perceived neighbourhood environment in a series of logistic regressions.Results: Individuals who reported interesting scenery (OR=1.41, 95% CI 1.17-1.71) and many places to go that were within easy walking distance (OR=1.39, 95% CI 1.18-1.64) were more likely to report walking at a level sufficient to derive health benefits. For women, interesting scenery in and around their neighbourhood (OR=1.40, 95% CI 1.13-1.74) and the presence of many places to go within easy walking distance (OR=1.42, 95% CI 1.17-1.72) were associated with walking at a sufficient level. Among men, no significant associations were found between the perceived environment measures and walking.Conclusions: The results from this study provide additional support for the use of models in which sex is treated as a potential moderator of the link between the perceived environment and physical activity. Further, the results support the use of an Internet-based research platform to collect data on the correlates of physical activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The purpose of this study was to: 1) evaluate the quality of promotional pedometers widely distributed through cereal boxes at the time of the 2004 Canada on the Move campaign; and 2) establish a battery of testing protocols to provide direction for future consensus on industry standards for pedometer quality.Methods: Fifteen Kellogg's* Special K* Step Counters (K pedometers or K; manufactured for Kellogg Canada by Sasco, Inc.) and 9 Yamax pedometers (Yamax; Yamax Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) were tested with 9 participants accordingly: 1) 20 Step Test; 2) treadmill at 80m x min(-1) (3 miles x hr(-1)) and motor vehicle controlled conditions; and 3) 24-hour free-living conditions against an accelerometer criterion.Results: Fifty-three percent of the K pedometers passed the 20 Step Test compared to 100% of the Yamax. Mean absolute percent error for the K during treadmill walking was 24.2+/-33.9 vs. 3.9+/-6.6% for the Yamax. The K detected 5.7-fold more non-steps compared to the Yamax during the motor vehicle condition. In the free-living condition, mean absolute percent error relative to the ActiGraph was 44.9+/-34.5% for the K vs. 19.5+/-21.2% for the Yamax.Conclusions: K pedometers are unacceptably inaccurate. We suggest that research grade pedometers: 1) be manufactured to a sensitivity threshold of 0.35 Gs; 2) detect +/-1 step error on the 20 Step Test (i.e., within 5%); 3) detect +/-1% error most of the time during treadmill walking at 80m x min(-1) (3 miles x hr(-1)); as well as, 4) detect steps/day within 10% of the ActiGraph at least 60% of the time, or be within 10% of the Yamax under free-living conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To perform a systematic review of completion rates of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) in adults aged 18 to 50 yr and describe how core components were reported, measured, and tailored to those under 50 yr., Review Methods: Database search of MEDLINE, Embase, Emcare, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library based on keywords, including articles from January 1, 1990. The last search was performed on April 21, 2023. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses protocol, eligible articles contained adults (aged between 18 and 50 yr) who had participated in a CR program., Summary: Out of the articles screened (n = 24,517), 33 reports across 31 independent studies were considered eligible (n = 1958 patients aged ≤50 yr). Cardiac rehabilitation completion rates ranged from 64% to 100%; however, only 5 studies presented a completion rate definition. The length of the program ranged from 7 d to 20 wk, with most (65%) ranging between 6 and 12 wk. While the studies included in this systematic review indicated relatively high rates of completing CR, these are likely to overrepresent the true completion rates as few definitions were provided that could be compared to completion rates used in clinical practice. This systematic review also found that all interventions prescribed exercise (eg, aerobic alone or combined with resistance training or yoga) but had very limited inclusion or description of other integral components of CR (eg, initial assessment and smoking cessation) or how they were assessed and individualized to meet the needs of younger attendees., Competing Interests: All authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)