Abstract
Background
The positive influence of physical activity (PA) on health is well documented. Even
at old age, PA remains useful but participation in PA decreases with age. In long-term
care facilities (LTCFs), PA appears to be reduced to a bare minimum. Because administrators
have a key role in developing the care policy of LTCFs, it is important that they
support the organization of PA in LTCFs.
Objective
The main objective of this mixed-method study was to identify motivators and barriers
for organizing PA in LTCFs according to administrators. A secondary goal was to examine
the knowledge of the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines regarding PA and to
reveal potential motivators and barriers for the implementation of the guidelines.
Methods
First, 24 administrators completed semistructured interviews. Data were analyzed using
the deductive approach of qualitative content analysis. The obtained motivators and
barriers were categorized on 3 different levels (intrapersonal, interpersonal, and
community) according to the socioecological model by 2 independent reviewers; conflicts
were resolved with a third researcher. Next, 127 administrators of Flemish (Belgium)
LTCFs completed an online questionnaire survey containing open-ended, unique, and
multiple choice questions regarding the LTCFs, PA, and the WHO guidelines, as well
as statements (scored on a 5-point Likert scale) regarding perceived motivators and
barriers for organizing PA sessions in the LTCF.
Results
In the qualitative component, the administrators reported 31 motivators and 24 barriers
for organizing PA in the LTCF. In the survey, maintaining or enhancing general health
of the residents (98%) and improving the psychological well-being of the residents
were marked as key motivators at the intrapersonal level. The administrators (97%)
were convinced that PA is a useful way to spend time for LTCF residents. Encouraging
social contact (94%) and countering loneliness (86%) are the motivators cited at the
interpersonal level. At the community level, the infrastructure of the facility (91%)
and adequate and sufficient material (88%) are the main motivators. The barriers that
were presented to the participants were scored as less important. The majority of
the administrators (83%) are not familiar with the WHO guidelines for PA; 70% of the
participants believe that the guidelines are useful, but only 40% is convinced that
it is realistic to implement the guidelines in an LTCF.
Conclusions
This study described different motivators and barriers for administrators to organize
PA in LTCFs. Contrary to other studies, lack of staff, lack of adequate equipment,
and lack of financial resources were rejected as potential barriers for organizing
PA. Despite the fact that administrators were not familiar with the WHO guidelines
for PA, they believed that the guidelines are useful. The participants reported several
barriers for implementation of the guidelines. Administrators of LTCFs are motivated
to implement the guidelines if PA can be integrated in daily activities and education
of LTCF staff regarding PA is provided.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: September 29, 2015
Footnotes
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
Identification
Copyright
© 2016 AMDA – The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
