Open Access

ARTICLE

Predicting Factors of Physical Activity among Children with Congenital Heart Disease after Corrective Surgery

Nuttanicha Sriboonyawattana^*, Thitima Suklerttrakul

Faculty of Nursing, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand

* Corresponding Author: Nuttanicha Sriboonyawattana. Email:

Congenital Heart Disease 2025, 20(2), 231-244. https://doi.org/10.32604/chd.2025.064662

Received 21 February 2025; Accepted 22 April 2025; Issue published 30 April 2025

Abstract

Objective: Many children with fully corrected congenital heart disease (CHD) avoid physical activity (PA). This descriptive study sought to determine child and parental factors that could predict PA levels in Thai children after corrective surgery. Methods: Ninety school-aged children with fully corrected CHD were recruited from a cardiology clinic at a university hospital in northern Thailand. Data collection involved five validated questionnaires: (1) the Modified Thai Adolescent’s Physical Activity Questionnaire, (2) the Child Health Status Questionnaire-Forms I and II, (3) the Parental Knowledge on School-aged Children’s Physical Activity Scale, (4) the Perceived Self-efficacy to Physical Activity Questionnaire, and (5) the Parental Bonding Instrument. The analysis included descriptive statistics and stepwise multiple regression. Results: Results showed that the physical activity (PA) levels, assessed through total energy expenditure, of children with CHD were below the recommended levels after treatment (t = –8.33, p < 0.001). There were significant correlations between PA and factors such as a child’s perceived health status, PA self-efficacy, and parental overprotection (r = 0.39, p < 0.050; r = 0.46, p < 0.050; r = 0.25, p < 0.050, respectively). After adjustment for demographic data and CHD type, these factors had no association with a child’s PA. Only two factors predicted childhood PA—the child’s perceived health status and PA self-efficacy which could explain 27.3% of the variance of PA (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The study highlights the necessity for interventions to enhance children’s perception of their health status and PA self-efficacy to increase their physical activity levels.

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