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Completed

NCT Number: NCT06795802

Effect of Evaluative Conditioning on Intensity of Physical Activity of Patients Doing Cardiac Rehabilitation

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.

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Key information

Conditions

Cardiovascular Diseases Behavior Motor Activity

Age range

18 year–75 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nîmes

Nîmes, Gard, 30900, France

About this study

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.

Who can participate

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Patients must have given written informed consent to participate in the trial
  • Patients must be aged18 to 75 years old
  • It must be less than 6 months after a first episode of myocardial infarction treated medically or by revascularization

Exclusion criteria

  • Patients with a disability preventing the performance of a bimanual test or an ergocycle task
  • Patients who are unable to give written informed consent or who have refused to sign the consent form

Treatment and study plan

Evaluative conditioning

Behavioral

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.

Primary outcomes

  1. Effect of evaluative conditioning on the intensity of physical activity produced by post-myocardial infarction patients involved in a cardiac rehabilitation program. Control group

    Time frame: Day 0 before completing the Implicit Association Test

    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.)

  2. Effect of evaluative conditioning on the intensity of physical activity produced by post-myocardial infarction patients involved in a cardiac rehabilitation program. Control group

    Time frame: Day 0 after completing the Implicit Association Test

    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.)

  3. Effect of evaluative conditioning on the intensity of physical activity produced by post-myocardial infarction patients involved in a cardiac rehabilitation program. Experimental group

    Time frame: Day 0 before completing the Implicit Association Test

    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.)

  4. Effect of evaluative conditioning on the intensity of physical activity produced by post-myocardial infarction patients involved in a cardiac rehabilitation program. Experimental group

    Time frame: Day 0 after completing the Implicit Association Test

    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

Secondary outcomes

  1. Mediating effect of implicit attitudinal change in the effect of evaluative conditioning on adopted behaviors. Control group

    Time frame: Time 0, before taking the test

    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).

  2. Mediating effect of implicit attitudinal change in the effect of evaluative conditioning on adopted behaviors. Experimental group

    Time frame: Time 0, before taking the test

    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)

  3. Mediating effect of implicit attitudinal change in the effect of evaluative conditioning on adopted behaviors. Control group

    Time frame: Time 0, after taking the test

    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)

  4. Mediating effect of implicit attitudinal change in the effect of evaluative conditioning on adopted behaviors. Experimental group

    Time frame: Time 0, after taking the test

    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)

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nīmes

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Effect of Evaluative Conditioning on the Intensity of Physical Activity of Patients in a Cardiac Rehabilitation Program

Acronym: Cardio'Activ

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Jan 28, 2025
Registry last updated
Dec 10, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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