Target population's requirements on a community-based intervention for stimulating physical activity in hard-to-reach physically disabled people: an interview study

Activity participation on executive functions and well- being of hearing impaired children

INTRODUCTION

The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between activity levels and psychological well-being and executive functions of children with hearing impairment.

METHOD

The study was conducted in seven schools providing education to hearing-impaired children in the Ankara province of Turkey. This cross-sectional-analytical study. The main data collection tools of the study were personal information form, Stirling Emotional and Psychological Well-being Scale for Children, Canadian Occupational Performance Measure and Childhood Executive Function Inventory Parent/Teacher Form. The relationships between the variables were evaluated using the Spearman correlation analysis and Multiple Linear Regression analysis was applied.

RESULTS

A total of 69 students attending primary and secondary schools participated in the study. Eighty students were invited to participate in the study, but 69 of them agreed to participate in the study. The ages of the participants ranged between 4 and 12 years (mean: 12.48 ± 3.43 years). There was a statistically significant positive correlation between psychological well-being scale and activity performance (r = 0.275, p = 0.022). The contribution of age and activity performance variables to the model showing the effect of the Well-being Scale on the total score was statistically significant. The age and activity performance, which were the independent variables in the model, explained 29.9% of the changes in the Well-being Scale score. A one-unit increase of age caused a 0.976 standard deviation decrease in the Well-being scale score and a one-unit increase of the activity performance variable caused a 2.270 standard deviation increase in the Well-being Scale score.

CONCLUSION

The psychological well-being and executive functions were positively affected in hearing impaired children, and activity-oriented programs will make an important contribution to support psychosocial health and executive functions in managing this process.

Evaluation of a sitting light volleyball intervention to adults with physical impairments: qualitative study using social-ecological model

Background

This study was a part of 16-week sitting light volleyball (SLVB) intervention program which examined the effects of the intervention on the physical and psychological attributes of adults with physical impairments (PWPI) in Hong Kong. Gaining a deeper understanding of the perceptions and experiences of PWPI in the SLVB intervention is critical to the development of SLVB as a physical activity and a sport. The aims of this study were (a) to assess participants’ experiences of the intervention and (b) to examine the suitability and feasibility of SLVB intervention for PWPI.

Methods

Twenty participants (mean age = 53.52 years, standard deviation 9.02 years; 60% female; 25% with at least a college degree) participated in semi-structured interviews.

Results

Content analysis revealed features of their experiences at the individual or intrapersonal level (physical and psychological health, enjoyment, novelty, competence, autonomy), interpersonal level (socialization and teamwork, social support), organizational and community levels (perceived sport venue environment, venue accessibility, safety, dissemination of information), and policy level (resources allocation by the government). The participants also commented on the suitability and feasibility of the SLVB intervention for PWPI, its content and coaching, the modified rules, the duration of sessions, scheduling, and the number of participants and coaches.

Conclusions

This study identified several themes relevant to the promotion of PWPI engagement with SLVB and demonstrated that adopting a multilevel approach to the intervention resulted in positive outcomes for participants. Playing SLVB is suitable and feasible for PWPI. The findings contribute to the understanding of the experiences PWPI had of the SLVB intervention, which is critical to the further development of SLVB as a physical activity and a sport.

Feasibility and short-term effects of Activity Coach+: a physical activity intervention in hard-to-reach people with a physical disability

PURPOSE

Existing physical activity interventions do not reach a considerable proportion of physically disabled people. This study assessed feasibility and short-term effects of Activity Coach+, a community-based intervention especially targeting this hard-to-reach population.

METHODS

Feasibility was determined by reach, dropouts, and compliance with the protocol. Physical activity was measured with the Activ8 accelerometer and the adapted SQUASH questionnaire. Health outcomes were assessed by body composition, blood pressure, hand grip force, 10-metre walk test, 6-minute walk test, and the Berg Balance Scale. The RAND-36, Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale, Fatigue Severity Scale, and IMPACT-S were administered. Measurements were performed at baseline and after 2 and 4 months. Changes over time were analysed by Friedman tests.

RESULTS

Twenty-nine participants enrolled during the first 4 months, of whom two dropped out. Intervention components were employed in 86-100% of the participants. Physical activity did not change after the implementation of Activity Coach+. Body mass index (p = 0.006), diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.032), walking ability (p = 0.002), exercise capacity (p = 0.013), balance (p = 0.014), and vitality (p = 0.049) changed over time.

CONCLUSIONS

Activity Coach + is feasible in a community setting. Indications for effectivity of Activity Coach + in hard-to-reach people with a physical disability were found.Implications for rehabilitationActivity Coach + was able to reach physically disabled people living in community, a population that is assumed hard-to-reach.Activity Coach + was feasible in a population of persons with a physical disability that was heterogeneous with respect to age and (severity of) disability.The current study provides the first indications for the beneficial health effects of Activity Coach + in hard-to-reach people with a physical disability.

Development of an intervention to stimulate physical activity in hard-to-reach physically disabled people and design of a pilot implementation: an intervention mapping approach

INTRODUCTION

Physically disabled people are less physically active compared with healthy people. Existing physical activity (PA) interventions are limited in reach, since they are primarily rehabilitation or school based. The current study aims to develop a community-based intervention for stimulating PA in hard-to-reach physically disabled people.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

To systematically develop a PA-stimulating intervention, intervention mapping (six steps) was applied. PA level and health-related quality of life of patients after rehabilitation was determined using questionnaires (step 1). Qualitative research was performed to study professionals' and physically disabled people's ideas about intervention objectives, determinants and design (steps 2 and 3). Since experts expressed no need for a new intervention, the existing intervention 'Activity coach' was adapted to the specific target population. The adapted intervention 'Activity coach+' composes a network of intermediate organisations that refers participants to an activity coach, who coaches participants during 1 year. After a preintervention physical assessment by a physiotherapist, participants will be individually guided to existing organised or non-organised activities. An activity tracker will be used to monitor and stimulate PA in daily life (step 4). To support adoption and implementation, meetings between involved parties are organised (step 5). 'Activity coach+' is implemented in community in March 2017, and will be evaluated using a mixed-method analysis. Quantitative evaluation of intervention effects on PA, health and social participation takes place after 0, 2, 4, 6 and 12 months. The implementation process and experiences with the intervention will be determined using qualitative research (step 6).

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Insights from this study will be used for dissemination and further development of the intervention. The Medical Ethical Committee of the University Medical Center Groningen confirmed that formal ethical approval was not required (METc 2016/630).

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NTR6858.