Table 2 Identified barriers and facilitators to exercise rehabilitation classified according to TDF embedded in COM-B

Physical capability

Physical skills

• Physical limitations

• Insufficient exercise endurance

• Physical condition improved after transplantation

• Reduce discomfort symptoms

Psychological

capability

Knowledge

Emotion and behavioural regulation

• Lack of exercise-related knowledge

• Healthcare providers’ conflicting or vague advice

• Negative life events after transplantation

• Actively learn basic exercise knowledge

• Actively seek professional guidance

• Positive improvement of exercise behavior

Physical opportunity

Environmental context and resources

• Bad weather

• The limitation of external environment

• Heavy financial burden

• Accessibility and convenience of exercise

Social opportunity

Social influence

• Lack of social support

• Insufficient support from healthcare providers

• Negative social effect

• Peer support

• Professional support from healthcare providers

Automatic motivation

Emotion

Reinforcement

• Ambivalence in decision-making

• Anxiety about impaired health

• Worries about the outcomes of LTx

• Discomfort experience brought by exercise

• Perceive the significance of exercise rehabilitation

• Optimistic exercise attitude

• Adapting to LTx and reinventing oneself

Reflective motivation

Beliefs about capabilities

Goals

Intention

• Excessive self-expectation

• Lack of exercise confidence

• Not be included in the priority target

• Lack of motivation

• High self-efficacy

• Priority of moving target

• Enhanced motivation of exercise rehabilitation