A Nurse-led Cardiac Rehabilitation Program for Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Based on the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills Model

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop a nurse-led cardiac rehabilitation program for patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), based on the information-motivation-behavioral Skills (IMB) model.Methods: This methodological study followed several sequential steps. A preliminary program was developed based on an integrative review and a nursing needs assessment conducted through in-depth interviews with patients undergoing CABG. The final program was refined using feedback from an expert committee, evaluated using the content validity index (CVI), and assessed for clinical validity with the participation of four patients.Results: Based on the theoretical framework of the IMB model, a conceptual framework was constructed. The purpose and specific components of the program were established by deriving three core concepts and nine sub-concepts from the nursing needs analysis. After content validity was verified by an expert panel, the preliminary program was applied to patients to assess clinical validity. As a result, a 12-week cardiac rehabilitation program was finalized.Conclusion: This study developed a nurse-led cardiac rehabilitation program based on the IMB model as a theoretical framework to enhance the continuity of cardiac rehabilitation, supported by the pilot program’s clinical feasibility. Future studies are recommended to validate the 12-week program in clinical practice using a sufficient sample size.