Enhancing Adoption of a Home-Based Exercise Program for Mild Balance Dysfunction: A Qualitative Study
in Journal of Aging and Physical ActivityClick name to view affiliation
Introduction:
The aim was to identify barriers and opportunities facing community health physiotherapists in delivering a home-based balance exercise program to address mild balance dysfunction and, secondly, to understand the perspectives of older people in adopting this program.
Method:
Focus groups, written surveys, and data recording sheets were used with nine older people and five physiotherapists. Focus groups were audio taped, transcribed, and coded independently by two researchers.
Results:
Thematic content analysis was undertaken. Emerging themes were: engaging in preventive health (various benefits, enhancing independence); adoption of strategies (acceptable design and implementation feasibility); exercising in context (convenience, practicality, and safety); and broader implementation issues (program design, proactive health messages, and a solid evidence base).
Conclusion:
The views of older people and physiotherapists were sought to understand the adoption of a previously successful home-based program for mild balance dysfunction. Understanding the unique context and circumstances for individuals and organizations will enhance adoption.
Meyer and Williams are research physiotherapists with the National Ageing Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia. Batchelor is a research fellow with the National Ageing Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia. Hill is a professor and Head of the School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
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