BACKGROUND: Peak oxygen uptake (VO2) testing is commonly used to assess chronic heart failure (CHF) patients' exercise tolerance. The test requires maximal effort; however, many participants have low confidence (self-efficacy) to perform optimally. PURPOSE: This randomized controlled trial examined the effectiveness of a modeling intervention to increase Peak VO2 (PVO2) and self-efficacy in people diagnosed with CHF. METHODS: Twenty participants with a diagnosis of CHF were randomized to either an intervention (modeling DVD) or a control group. Both groups completed a measure of self-efficacy prior to performing two PVO2 tests, each separated by 7 days. After completing the first test (T1) the intervention group watched a 10-min coping model DVD. All participants returned 1 week later (T2) to complete identical study procedures. RESULTS: Analysis of covariance results showed that compared with the participants in the control group, those assigned to the modeling intervention had higher PVO2 at T2, F[1,19] = 4.38, p = 0.05, eta2 = 0.21 and self-efficacy, F[1,19] = 5.80, p < 0.05, eta2 = 0.25. Only partial support was found for change in self-efficacy mediating treatment outcome (PVO2). CONCLUSIONS: Watching a modeling video is associated with increased PVO2 and self-efficacy. These results have implications for testing patients in a clinical setting to maximize exercise tolerance test results.

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