Long Term Exercise Engagement of Adults Living With Type Two Diabetes Is Enhanced by a Person-Centred Care Approach Delivered by Knowledgeable, Well Trained Health Care Professionals.
Leigh Hale, Christopher Higgs, Donna Keen and 1 others
PMID 36188765WHAT IT FOUND
People with type 2 diabetes stayed in a community exercise programme for the blood pressure checks, social contact and tailored advice.
Exercise was the added bonus. Clinicians should focus on building trust and safety first, then introduce movement.
Key findings
01Attendees were motivated by the monitoring, education and social aspects of the programme, with exercise becoming a by-product of attending rather than the primary driver.
02The presence of knowledgeable nurses and physiotherapists who monitored health and tailored exercises made attendees feel safe enough to participate.
03Health care professionals found the flexible, person-centred delivery challenging without specific training in motivational interviewing principles.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study only interviewed attendees who completed the 12-week programme, excluding those who dropped out or did not attend, which may bias perceptions towards positive experiences. The sample size is small (17 attendees), and the findings reflect a specific New Zealand community context with a focus on Māori and Pacific populations, which may not generalise to other settings. The study did not assess long-term engagement beyond the initial 12 weeks, so it is unclear if these factors sustain participation in the maintenance phase.
Declared interests
The authors declare no commercial or financial conflicts of interest. The study was funded by the New Zealand Health Research Council.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret this as evidence that the exercise programme improved clinical outcomes like blood sugar control. This was a qualitative study of experiences and perceptions, not a trial measuring health effects.