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Intervention To Slow Progression Of Peripheral Arterial Disease, Sharon K. Christman

Faculty Dissertations

Lower extremity peripheral arterial disease (PAD), which results from peripheral atherosclerosis, affects up to 10 million people in the United States alone. Claudication, defined as walking-induced pain in one or both legs relieved by rest, is the primary symptom of lower extremity PAD. Vascular nurses play a critical role in the collaborative care of PAD patients by offering counseling to change unhealthy behaviors, yet patients experience problems in actually overcoming sedentary lifestyle and nicotine addiction--the cornerstones of lifestyle management for PAD. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to identify factors that promote the adoption and maintenance of exercise …