An observational study in Cardiovascular Diseases, sponsored by Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nīmes. Completed at 1 site in France. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 75 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-12-10.
Sponsored by Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nīmes · Observational
The hypothesis is that, compared to those in the control group (i.e., diet-related evaluative conditioning), participants in the Physical Activity (PA) group (i.e. PA-friendly evaluative conditioning) will exhibit (1) a higher intensity (power setting) on an ergocycle during a free Physical Activity session in their rehabilitation program and (2) A greater increase in the implicit attitude score.
The primary objective will be to evaluate the effect of evaluative conditioning (EC) on the intensity of physical activity produced by post-myocardial infarction patients involved in a cardiac rehabilitation program.The secondary objective of this study will be to evaluate the mediating effect of implicit attitude change in the effect of evaluative conditioning on adopted behaviors.
More specifically, post-myocardial infarction physical activity has been shown to reduce cardiac morbidity and mortality. Indeed, exercise improves cardiovascular health through mechanisms such as lowering blood pressure, weight reduction, and increased insulin sensitivity. Although there are no formal guidelines for physical activity (PA) after Myocardial Infarction, patients are encouraged to achieve 150 minutes of low-to-moderate intensity PA per week.
Nevertheless, despite the growing body of scientific evidence and the widespread dissemination of information about the benefits of PA, the recommendations have been difficult for post-myocardial infarction patients to comply with. There is evidence to suggest that post-cardiac rehabilitation patients struggle to maintain sustained PA. This may be due to a number of barriers, including fatigue, mood disorders, a lack of motivation, or kinesiophobia.
Continued improvements in monitoring physical activity and the development of policies and programs to increase activity levels appears to be a necessity. This may reduce the burden of physical inactivity and noncommunicable diseases (eg, cardiovascular disease). Therefore, one of the major challenges is to succeed in identifying the main determinants playing a role in the lack of adoption of regular PA. Indeed, targeting these determinants would ultimately allow us to improve the PA promotion strategies already in place for the population. However, maintenance of a practice over time is a complex issue that may be influenced by a multitude of factors. Among these, previous work suggests that the identification of motivational determinants of physical activity represents a relevant research object in this context.
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This study's enrollment of 24 is below the median of 573 across 1,485 observational studies indexed under Cardiovascular Diseases.
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Post-myocardial infarction patients involved in a cardiac rehabilitation program at Nîmes University Hospital, France.
Exclusion Criteria:
Patients in this group will receive Evaluative Conditioning favorable to diet. The evaluative conditioning procedure is a learning technique performed on a monitor. It consists of being exposed to the repeated association of an object (conditioned stimulus; in this case, fruit and vegetables) to stimuli with a positive or negative valence (unconditioned stimulus). The total duration of the Evaluative Conditioning is approximately 15 minutes.
Behavioral: Evaluative conditioning
Patients in this group will receive Evaluative Conditioning favorable to Physical Activity. Patients in this group will receive Evaluative Conditioning favorable to diet. The evaluative conditioning procedure is a learning technique performed on a monitor. It consists of being exposed to the repeated association of an object (conditioned stimulus; in this case, Physical Activity) to stimuli with a positive or negative valence (unconditioned stimulus). The total duration of the Evaluative Conditioning is approximately 15 minutes.
Behavioral: Evaluative conditioning
The evaluative conditioning procedure is a learning technique performed on a monitor. It consists of being exposed to the repeated association of an object (conditioned stimulus, in our case, Physical Activity or fruit and vegetables) to stimuli with a positive or negative valence (unconditioned stimulus, US). The total duration of the CE is approximately 15 minutes.
Effect of evaluative conditioning on the intensity of physical activity produced by post-myocardial infarction patients involved in a cardiac rehabilitation program. Control group
The choice of intensity (power setting) on the ergocycle will be measured by controlling it before the Evaluative Conditioning procedure.the ergocycle task consists of pedaling on an indoor bicycle for about 15 minutes, we will only be interested in the intensity data of this task (This task is an integral part of the patients' care at the University Hospital and will be supervised by health professionals - physiotherapist, physical activity teachers, etc.)
Time frame: Day 0 before completing the Implicit Association Test
Effect of evaluative conditioning on the intensity of physical activity produced by post-myocardial infarction patients involved in a cardiac rehabilitation program. Control group
The choice of intensity (power setting) on the ergocycle will be measured by controlling it before the Evaluative Conditioning procedure.the ergocycle task consists of pedaling on an indoor bicycle for about 15 minutes, we will only be interested in the intensity data of this task (This task is an integral part of the patients' care at the University Hospital and will be supervised by health professionals - physiotherapist, physical activity teachers, etc.)
Time frame: Day 0 after completing the Implicit Association Test
Effect of evaluative conditioning on the intensity of physical activity produced by post-myocardial infarction patients involved in a cardiac rehabilitation program. Experimental group
The choice of intensity (power setting) on the ergocycle will be measured by controlling it before the Evaluative Conditioning procedure.the ergocycle task consists of pedaling on an indoor bicycle for about 15 minutes, we will only be interested in the intensity data of this task (This task is an integral part of the patients' care at the University Hospital and will be supervised by health professionals - physiotherapist, physical activity teachers, etc.)
Time frame: Day 0 before completing the Implicit Association Test
Effect of evaluative conditioning on the intensity of physical activity produced by post-myocardial infarction patients involved in a cardiac rehabilitation program. Experimental group
The choice of intensity (power setting) on the ergocycle will be measured by controlling it before the Evaluative Conditioning procedure. Note that the ergocycle task consists of pedaling on an indoor bicycle for about 15 minutes, (this task is an integral part of the patients' care at the University Hospital and will be supervised by health professionals - physiotherapist, physical activity teachers, etc.). Only the intensity data of this task will be recorded
Time frame: Day 0 after completing the Implicit Association Test
Mediating effect of implicit attitudinal change in the effect of evaluative conditioning on adopted behaviors. Control group
The change in implicit attitudes will be measured by comparing the Implicit Association Test pretest score (T0) and the Implicit Association Test posttest score (T1).
Time frame: Time 0, before taking the test
Mediating effect of implicit attitudinal change in the effect of evaluative conditioning on adopted behaviors. Experimental group
The change in implicit attitudes will be measured by comparing the Implicit Association Test pretest score (T0) and the Implicit Association Test posttest score (T1)
Time frame: Time 0, before taking the test
Mediating effect of implicit attitudinal change in the effect of evaluative conditioning on adopted behaviors. Control group
The change in implicit attitudes will be measured by comparing the Implicit Association Test pretest score (T0) and the Implicit Association Test posttest score (T1)
Time frame: Time 0, after taking the test
Mediating effect of implicit attitudinal change in the effect of evaluative conditioning on adopted behaviors. Experimental group
The change in implicit attitudes will be measured by comparing the Implicit Association Test pretest score (T0) and the Implicit Association Test posttest score (T1)
Time frame: Time 0, after taking the test
Plan to share: No
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