PURPOSE: We studied whether partial versus full subsidization and self versus other monitoring promote adherence to physician-prescribed exercise. METHOD: We randomly assigned 132 participants to experimental conditions defined by two levels of subsidization and two types of monitoring. Physicians wrote prescriptions as referrals to an exercise facility. A computer recorded participants' exercise for 12 weeks. A sponsoring medical organization paid half or all of the facility's fees. Half of the participants kept records of workouts, and half reported workouts to researchers who telephoned them. RESULTS: Fully subsidized patients averaged 21.41 workouts versus 16.67 workouts by partially subsidized patients (p < 0.05). Researcher-monitored participants averaged 22.14 workouts versus 15.96 workouts by self-monitored participants (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Full subsidization and third-party monitoring increased exercise rates. These findings encourage use of both to enhance prescribed exercise rates and continued study of factors that contribute to the efficacy of prescribed exercise.

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