An integrative review of utilizing mutual goal setting with the elective coronary artery bypass graft patient to improve postoperative physiotherapy adherence

Abstract

The purpose of this integrative literature review was to determine if mutual goal setting improved postoperative adherence to physiotherapy in adult patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. The integrative review was conducted using the methodology outlined by Whittemore and Knafl (2005). Literature was gathered by searching databases with key search terms related to physiotherapy adherence and goal setting. A review of abstracts and full-text using inclusion and exclusion criteria was conducted to determine which reports to include in the review. There no reports or studies that discussed the effects of mutual goal setting on physiotherapy adherence in the adult elective CABG patient. Reports and studies that looked at the effects of mutual goal setting in patients with heart disease and patients in cardiac rehabilitation programs were analyzed. The results from those reports and studies were extrapolated and applied to the adult elective CABG patient on the basis that the groups share similar levels of anxiety and depression, which evidence has shown affects adherence to physiotherapy. The results were analyzed based on outcome measurement of adherence (objectively measured levels of adherence or subjectively reported by participants' perception of how adherent they were). Results were inconclusive, but most of the studies suggest that goal setting, used alone or in conjunction with other motivational techniques, can improve adherence to physiotherapy in heart disease patients.