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Factors that Influence Physical Activity in Long-term Care: Perspectives of Residents, Staff, and Significant Others*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 June 2011

Kathleen Benjamin ,
Nancy Edwards ,
Paulette Guitard ,
Mary Ann Murray ,
Wenda Caswell  and
Marie Josée Perrier
Kathleen Benjamin*
Affiliation:
School of Nursing, University of Ottawa Community Health Research Unit
Nancy Edwards
Affiliation:
School of Nursing, University of Ottawa Department of Epidemiology and Community Medicine, University of Ottawa Community Health Research Unit
Paulette Guitard
Affiliation:
School of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Ottawa
Mary Ann Murray
Affiliation:
School of Nursing, University of Ottawa
Wenda Caswell
Affiliation:
School of Nursing, Nipissing University
Marie Josée Perrier
Affiliation:
School of Kinesiology and Health Promotion, Queen’s University
*
†Correspondence and requests for offprints should be sent to / La correspondance et les demandes de tirés-à-part doivent être adressées à: Kathleen Benjamin, R.N., Ph.D. (candidate) C/O School of Nursing University of Ottawa 451 Smyth Road, Rm. 1118H Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5 ([email protected])
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Abstract

Physical activity has been linked to positive health outcomes for frail seniors. However, our understanding of factors that influence the physical activity of residents in the long-term care (LTC) setting is limited. This article describes our work with focus groups, one component of a multi-component study that examined factors influencing the physical activity of LTC residents. Residents, significant others, and staff from nine LTC facilities participated in these focus groups. Analysis of group discussions revealed three themes reflecting factors that mitigate the provision of physical activity: (a) inadequate support for physical activity, (b) pervasive institutional routines, and (c) physical environment constraints. All participants considered physical activity important to health preservation. Individual, structural, and environmental factors affected the quantity and quality of physical activity accessed by residents. These findings confirm the need to develop practical strategies and ways to address modifiable barriers and embed physical activity into LTC systems of care.

Résumé

L’activité physique a des répercussions positives sur la santé des ainés. Toutefois, notre compréhension des facteurs qui influencent l’activité physique pour les résidents en soins de longue durée est limitée. Des résidents, des personnes significatives et des employés de neuf établissements de longue durée ont participé à des groupes de discussion (focus group). L’analyse de ces groupes de discussion révèle trois thèmes majeurs reflétant des facteurs qui semblent mitiger l’activité physique : 1) appui inadéquat pour l’activité physique; 2) routines institutionnelles omniprésentes; et 3) l’environnement physique. Tous les participants considèrent que l’activité physique est un facteur important pour préserver la santé. Des facteurs individuels, structuraux et environnementaux ont un impact sur la quantité et la qualité de l’activité physique accessible aux résidents. Ces résultats confirment le besoin de développer des stratégies pratiques et des moyens pour modifier les barrières et ancrer l’activité physique dans les soins de longue durée.

Keywords

l’activité physiquerecherche qualitatifbarrièresfacilitateurssoins longue duréephysical activityqualitative researchbarriersfacilitatorslong-term care
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 30 , Issue 2 , June 2011 , pp. 247 - 258
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 2011

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Footnotes

*

This project was supported by the Community Health Research Unit at the University of Ottawa and the Seniors Health Research Transfer Network (SHRTN). Both are funded by the Government of Ontario. Nancy Edwards holds a Nursing Chair funded by the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and the Government of Ontario.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors. Publication does not imply any endorsement of these views by the Government of Ontario, the Community Health Research Unit, or the SHRTN. The authors thank all of the participating long-term care facilities. The study would not have been possible without their support.

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