141st APHA Annual Meeting

In This section

292981
Physical activity barriers identified by adults aging with spina bifida

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Kerri A. Vanderbom, MA , School of Biological & Population Health Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
Alicia Dixon-Ibarra, MS , School of Biological and Population Health Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
Simon Driver, PhD , School of Biological & Population Health Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
BACKGROUND: With the high number of chronic conditions, the rising cost of healthcare, and low quality of life faced by adults aging with spina bifida (SB), health promotion programs (HPP) are needed to improve health. A national online survey was conducted to complete a physical activity (PA) HPP needs assessment of SB adults (18-60 y/o). The purpose of the study was to examine barriers in SB adults who report being regular exercisers compared to those who report not being regular exercisers. METHOD: Participants (n=299) completed an online survey. A logistical regression was conducted to compare barriers for regular exercisers (participants in stages 4-5 of the stage of change (SOC)) versus not regular exercisers (stages 1-3 of SOC). RESULTS: 61% (n=173) of SB adults were not regular exercisers and 39% (n=109) were regular exercisers. Regular exercisers were 60% less likely to report cost as a barrier (odds ratio (OR): 0.40; 95% CI 0.18, 0.89), 75% less likely to report being lazy (OR: 0.25; 95% CI 0.08, 0.73), and 75% less likely to report a lack of interest in exercise (OR: 0.25; 95% CI 0.065, 0.97) than SB adults who are not regular exercisers after controlling for age, sex, marital status, income, and BMI. Females were 57% less likely to be regular exercisers compared to males with SB (OR: 0.43; CI 0.20, 0.92) CONCLUSION: It is important to understand the PA barriers of adults with SB in order to develop tailored PA HPPs to improve health outcomes in this aging subpopulation.

Learning Areas:
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs

Learning Objectives:
Compare physical activity barriers of adults with spina bifida who are regular exercisers to those who are not regular exercisers.

Keywords: Disability, Health Promotion

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have worked with adults with disabilities for over 15 years and currently work in the disabilities and health promotion lab at OSU. My research interests are working with adults with spina bifida and physical activity health promotion strategies.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.