Cardiothoracic surgery is a major intervention often associated with prolonged recovery, reduced physical endurance, and potential postoperative complications. Exercise during the recovery period plays a pivotal role in improving cardiovascular function, enhancing pulmonary efficiency, maintaining muscle strength, and promoting overall quality of life. However, many patients lack adequate knowledge about the types, benefits, and safety precautions of exercises after cardiothoracic surgery, which may limit their participation in rehabilitation activities. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a structured teaching program on patients’ knowledge regarding the impact of exercise after cardiothoracic surgery. A quasi-experimental one-group pre-test–post-test design was employed, with 60 postoperative patients selected through purposive sampling from a tertiary care hospital. Participants received a structured teaching program that included detailed instructions, visual demonstrations, and interactive discussions about the role and benefits of postoperative exercises. Knowledge levels were assessed before and after the intervention using a validated self-administered questionnaire. Statistical analysis revealed a significant improvement in post-intervention knowledge scores compared to pre-intervention scores, indicating that the structured teaching program effectively enhanced patients’ understanding of exercise benefits, techniques, and safety measures. The study highlights the importance of patient education as an essential component of postoperative care, encouraging adherence to exercise regimens, reducing potential complications, and supporting faster and safer recovery. Integrating structured teaching programs into routine cardiothoracic postoperative care can empower patients, improve rehabilitation outcomes, and enhance overall wellbeing.

Keywords: Cardiothoracic surgery, postoperative exercise, structured teaching program, patient knowledge, rehabilitation education

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1. Tessler J, Ahmed I, Bordoni B. Cardiac rehabilitation. [Updated 2025 Mar 28]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2026 Jan-. Available from: NCBI Bookshelf
2. Balady GJ, Williams MA, Ades PA, Bittner V, Comoss P, Foody JM, et al. Core components of cardiac rehabilitation/secondary prevention programs: 2007 update: A scientific statement from the American Heart Association Exercise, Cardiac Rehabilitation, and Prevention Committee, the Council on Clinical Cardiology; the Councils on Cardiovascular Nursing, Epidemiology and Prevention, and Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Metabolism; and the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation. Circulation. 2007;115(20):2675–82. doi: 1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.106.180945.
3. Zhang R, Zhu C, Chen S, Tian F, Chen Y. Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation for patients after heart valve surgery: A systematic review and re-evaluation with evidence mapping study. Clin Cardiol. 2025;48(3):e70117. doi: 1002/clc.70117.
4. Dalal HM, Doherty P, Taylor RS. Cardiac rehabilitation. BMJ. 2015;351:h5000. doi: 1136/ bmj.h5000.
5. Prisacariu I, Iorescu LV, Aboueddahab C, Taheri M, Beneki E, Akinci B, et al. Cardiac rehabilitation in patients after coronary artery bypass grafting: Core components and long-term follow-up. J Clin Med. 2026;15(3):1103. doi: 3390/jcm15031103.
6. Heran BS, Chen JM, Ebrahim S, Moxham T, Oldridge N, Rees K, et al. Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation for coronary heart disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011;(7):CD001800. doi: 1002/14651858.CD001800.pub2.
7. Kachur S, Chongthammakun V, Lavie CJ, De Schutter A, Arena R, Milani RV, et al. Impact of cardiac rehabilitation and exercise training programs in coronary heart disease. Prog Cardiovasc Dis. 2017;60(1):103–14. doi: 1016/j.pcad.2017.07.002.
8. Corrà U, Piepoli MF, Carré F, Heuschmann P, Hoffmann U, Verschuren M, et al. Secondary prevention through cardiac rehabilitation: Physical activity counselling and exercise training: Key components of the position paper from the Cardiac Rehabilitation Section of the European Association of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation. Eur Heart J. 2010;31(16):1967–74. doi: 1093/eurheartj/ehq236.
9. Rawstorn JC, Gant N, Direito A, Beckmann C, Maddison R. Telehealth exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Heart. 2016;102(15):1183–92. doi: 1136/heartjnl-2015-308966.
10. Thomas RJ, King M, Lui K, Oldridge N, Piña IL, Spertus J, et al. AACVPR/ACCF/AHA 2010 update: performance measures on cardiac rehabilitation for referral to cardiac rehabilitation/ secondary prevention services: A report of the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation and the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on Performance Measures. J Cardiopulm Rehabil Prev. 2010;30(5):279–88. doi: 1097/HCR.0b013e3181f5e36f.

Cardiothoracic surgery is a major intervention often associated with prolonged recovery, reduced physical endurance, and potential postoperative complications. Exercise during the recovery period plays a pivotal role in improving cardiovascular function, enhancing pulmonary efficiency, maintaining muscle strength, and promoting overall quality of life. However, many patients lack adequate knowledge about the types, benefits, and safety precautions of exercises after cardiothoracic surgery, which may limit their participation in rehabilitation activities. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a structured teaching program on patients’ knowledge regarding the impact of exercise after cardiothoracic surgery. A quasi-experimental one-group pre-test–post-test design was employed, with 60 postoperative patients selected through purposive sampling from a tertiary care hospital. Participants received a structured teaching program that included detailed instructions, visual demonstrations, and interactive discussions about the role and benefits of postoperative exercises. Knowledge levels were assessed before and after the intervention using a validated self-administered questionnaire. Statistical analysis revealed a significant improvement in post-intervention knowledge scores compared to pre-intervention scores, indicating that the structured teaching program effectively enhanced patients’ understanding of exercise benefits, techniques, and safety measures. The study highlights the importance of patient education as an essential component of postoperative care, encouraging adherence to exercise regimens, reducing potential complications, and supporting faster and safer recovery. Integrating structured teaching programs into routine cardiothoracic postoperative care can empower patients, improve rehabilitation outcomes, and enhance overall wellbeing.

Keywords: Cardiothoracic surgery, postoperative exercise, structured teaching program, patient knowledge, rehabilitation education

🔒 This is a subscription article

Full text is available to subscribers and institutional members. Please choose an option below to access it.

1. Tessler J, Ahmed I, Bordoni B. Cardiac rehabilitation. [Updated 2025 Mar 28]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2026 Jan-. Available from: NCBI Bookshelf
2. Balady GJ, Williams MA, Ades PA, Bittner V, Comoss P, Foody JM, et al. Core components of cardiac rehabilitation/secondary prevention programs: 2007 update: A scientific statement from the American Heart Association Exercise, Cardiac Rehabilitation, and Prevention Committee, the Council on Clinical Cardiology; the Councils on Cardiovascular Nursing, Epidemiology and Prevention, and Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Metabolism; and the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation. Circulation. 2007;115(20):2675–82. doi: 1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.106.180945.
3. Zhang R, Zhu C, Chen S, Tian F, Chen Y. Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation for patients after heart valve surgery: A systematic review and re-evaluation with evidence mapping study. Clin Cardiol. 2025;48(3):e70117. doi: 1002/clc.70117.
4. Dalal HM, Doherty P, Taylor RS. Cardiac rehabilitation. BMJ. 2015;351:h5000. doi: 1136/ bmj.h5000.
5. Prisacariu I, Iorescu LV, Aboueddahab C, Taheri M, Beneki E, Akinci B, et al. Cardiac rehabilitation in patients after coronary artery bypass grafting: Core components and long-term follow-up. J Clin Med. 2026;15(3):1103. doi: 3390/jcm15031103.
6. Heran BS, Chen JM, Ebrahim S, Moxham T, Oldridge N, Rees K, et al. Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation for coronary heart disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011;(7):CD001800. doi: 1002/14651858.CD001800.pub2.
7. Kachur S, Chongthammakun V, Lavie CJ, De Schutter A, Arena R, Milani RV, et al. Impact of cardiac rehabilitation and exercise training programs in coronary heart disease. Prog Cardiovasc Dis. 2017;60(1):103–14. doi: 1016/j.pcad.2017.07.002.
8. Corrà U, Piepoli MF, Carré F, Heuschmann P, Hoffmann U, Verschuren M, et al. Secondary prevention through cardiac rehabilitation: Physical activity counselling and exercise training: Key components of the position paper from the Cardiac Rehabilitation Section of the European Association of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation. Eur Heart J. 2010;31(16):1967–74. doi: 1093/eurheartj/ehq236.
9. Rawstorn JC, Gant N, Direito A, Beckmann C, Maddison R. Telehealth exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Heart. 2016;102(15):1183–92. doi: 1136/heartjnl-2015-308966.
10. Thomas RJ, King M, Lui K, Oldridge N, Piña IL, Spertus J, et al. AACVPR/ACCF/AHA 2010 update: performance measures on cardiac rehabilitation for referral to cardiac rehabilitation/ secondary prevention services: A report of the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation and the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on Performance Measures. J Cardiopulm Rehabil Prev. 2010;30(5):279–88. doi: 1097/HCR.0b013e3181f5e36f.