A mixed methods study of perceived barriers to physical activity, geriatric syndromes, and physical activity levels among older adults with peripheral artery disease and diabetes.
Mary O Whipple, Erica N Schorr, Kristine M C Talley and 3 others
PMID 31155168WHAT IT FOUND
Ten older adults with PAD and diabetes named lack of accessibility, lack of enjoyment, lack of motivation, and pain as barriers to exercise.
They spent 66.9% of their time sedentary and 10.2% in moderate to vigorous activity.
Key findings
01The most commonly identified barriers to physical activity were lack of accessibility, lack of enjoyment, lack of motivation, and pain or physical health.
02Participants spent 66.9% of their time sedentary and 10.2% of their time in moderate to vigorous physical activity.
03Three participants, 30%, reported one or more falls in the previous three months, and all participants expressed at least some concern about falling.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study included only 10 participants, all from or connected to PAD exercise programs, so it may not represent older adults with PAD and diabetes who have never exercised. The sample was mostly men and all non-Hispanic white, with only two female participants, so the range of views may be narrow. The design was cross-sectional, so it cannot show that barriers, fear of falling, or physical function cause lower activity. Not all participants had an ankle-brachial index, and other comorbid conditions were not collected, so PAD severity and other health limits were incompletely measured. The authors note that benefits may have been overendorsed because of social desirability. The interview guide did not probe community or public policy barriers, so those may be missing. One participant did not complete the 6-minute walk test due to time constraints. The study did not test an intervention, so it cannot show that removing these barriers increases physical activity.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read these themes as proof that an exercise program works or that the barriers apply to all older adults with PAD and diabetes. The study included 10 people selected from PAD exercise programs, and it measured perceptions and activity at one time point.