Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #111950

Britta L. Schoster, MPH¹, Leigh F. Callahan, PhD¹, Andrea Meier, PhD², Thelma Mielenz, PT, PhD, OCS¹, and Lisa DiMartino, MPH¹. (1) Thurston Arthritis Research Center, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, 3330 Thurston Building, CB#7280, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, 919-966-7209, schoster@email.unc.edu, (2) School of Social Work, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 301 Pittsboro Street CB# 3550, Chapel Hill, NC 27599

Objective

People with Arthritis Can Exercise is a community-based exercise program for people with arthritis developed by the Arthritis Foundation. This qualitative study was designed to explore satisfaction with the program in a sample of older individuals participating in a randomized control trial.

Methods

Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with 51 individuals who were participating in a longer randomized control trial of the basic-level People with Arthritis Can Exercise program. Participants were asked their views about overall satisfaction with the program. Motivating factors and barriers to attending the classes including content, instructor, location and schedule were examined. Data were analyzed using NUD*IST (N6) qualitative software.

Results

Of the 51 interviewed, 94% were female, with an average age of 67 years (range: 53 to 74 years). Participants reported deriving considerable social support from exercising in a group with other individuals with arthritis. They identified two main factors that motivated them to continue participating in the exercise class: being able to work at their own pace during the class; and feeling confident that they could do different types of exercise activities safely. Participants also reported that the instructor played a vital role in sustaining their motivation to exercise. Non-completers reported arthritis-related illness or insufficient physical challenge as key barriers to participating in the class.

Conclusion

This study suggests that a group exercise program for older people with arthritis is beneficial in promoting a sense of support, and in increasing self-efficacy for exercise by allowing individuals to work at their own pace.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. Articulate the qualitative methods used to analyze the PACE interview data.
• 2. Identify motivators and barriers to participation in the PACE program.
• 3. Develop recommendations for appropriate community based exercise programs for older adults with arthritis.

Keywords: Physical Activity, Arthritis

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.