‘Managing pieces of a personal puzzle’ — Older people’s experiences of self-management falls prevention exercise guided by a digital program or a booklet

Abstract Background Exercise is effective in order to prevent falls in community-dwelling older people. Self-management programs have the potential to increase access and reduce costs related to exercise-based fall prevention. However, information regarding older people’s views of participating in s...

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Main Authors: Beatrice Pettersson, Maria Wiklund, Rebecka Janols, Helena Lindgren, Lillemor Lundin-Olsson, Dawn A. Skelton, Marlene Sandlund
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2019-02-01
Series:BMC Geriatrics
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12877-019-1063-9
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author Beatrice Pettersson
Maria Wiklund
Rebecka Janols
Helena Lindgren
Lillemor Lundin-Olsson
Dawn A. Skelton
Marlene Sandlund
author_facet Beatrice Pettersson
Maria Wiklund
Rebecka Janols
Helena Lindgren
Lillemor Lundin-Olsson
Dawn A. Skelton
Marlene Sandlund
author_sort Beatrice Pettersson
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Exercise is effective in order to prevent falls in community-dwelling older people. Self-management programs have the potential to increase access and reduce costs related to exercise-based fall prevention. However, information regarding older people’s views of participating in such programs is needed to support implementation. The aim of this study was to explore older people’s experiences of a self-management fall prevention exercise routine guided either by a digital program (web-based or mobile) or a paper booklet. Methods This qualitative study was part of a feasibility study exploring two completely self-managed exercise interventions in which the participants tailored their own program, guided either by a digital program or a paper booklet. Individual face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposeful sample of 28 participants (18 women), mean age 76 yrs. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyse the data. Results Self-managing and self-tailoring these exercise programs was experienced as ‘Managing pieces of a personal puzzle’. To independently being able to create a program and manage exercise was described in the categories ‘Finding my own level’ and ‘Programming it into my life’. The participants experienced the flexibility and independence provided by completely self-managed exercise as positive and constructive although it required discipline. Furthermore, different needs and preferences when managing their exercise were described, as well as varying sources of motivation for doing the exercise, as highlighted in the category ‘Defining my source of motivation’. The category ‘Evolving my acquired knowledge’ captures the participants’ views of building their competence and strategies for maintenance of the exercise. It describes a combined process of learning the program and developing reflection, which was more clearly articulated by participants using the digital program. Conclusions This study provides new knowledge regarding experiences, preferences and motivations of older people to engage in home-based self-managed fall prevention exercise. They expressed both a capability and willingness to independently manage their exercise. A digital program seems to have strengthened the feeling of support while creating their own exercise program and tailoring it to their preferences and circumstances, which might therefore create better opportunities for adoption and adherence in the long term.
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spelling doaj.art-279f3a3775874abb8045a9727b91f8242022-12-22T00:07:32ZengBMCBMC Geriatrics1471-23182019-02-0119111210.1186/s12877-019-1063-9‘Managing pieces of a personal puzzle’ — Older people’s experiences of self-management falls prevention exercise guided by a digital program or a bookletBeatrice Pettersson0Maria Wiklund1Rebecka Janols2Helena Lindgren3Lillemor Lundin-Olsson4Dawn A. Skelton5Marlene Sandlund6Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Physiotherapy, Umeå UniversityDepartment of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Physiotherapy, Umeå UniversityDepartment of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Occupational Therapy and Department of Computing Science, Umeå UniversityDepartment of Computing Science, Umeå UniversityDepartment of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Physiotherapy, Umeå UniversitySchool of Health and Life Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian UniversityDepartment of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Physiotherapy, Umeå UniversityAbstract Background Exercise is effective in order to prevent falls in community-dwelling older people. Self-management programs have the potential to increase access and reduce costs related to exercise-based fall prevention. However, information regarding older people’s views of participating in such programs is needed to support implementation. The aim of this study was to explore older people’s experiences of a self-management fall prevention exercise routine guided either by a digital program (web-based or mobile) or a paper booklet. Methods This qualitative study was part of a feasibility study exploring two completely self-managed exercise interventions in which the participants tailored their own program, guided either by a digital program or a paper booklet. Individual face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposeful sample of 28 participants (18 women), mean age 76 yrs. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyse the data. Results Self-managing and self-tailoring these exercise programs was experienced as ‘Managing pieces of a personal puzzle’. To independently being able to create a program and manage exercise was described in the categories ‘Finding my own level’ and ‘Programming it into my life’. The participants experienced the flexibility and independence provided by completely self-managed exercise as positive and constructive although it required discipline. Furthermore, different needs and preferences when managing their exercise were described, as well as varying sources of motivation for doing the exercise, as highlighted in the category ‘Defining my source of motivation’. The category ‘Evolving my acquired knowledge’ captures the participants’ views of building their competence and strategies for maintenance of the exercise. It describes a combined process of learning the program and developing reflection, which was more clearly articulated by participants using the digital program. Conclusions This study provides new knowledge regarding experiences, preferences and motivations of older people to engage in home-based self-managed fall prevention exercise. They expressed both a capability and willingness to independently manage their exercise. A digital program seems to have strengthened the feeling of support while creating their own exercise program and tailoring it to their preferences and circumstances, which might therefore create better opportunities for adoption and adherence in the long term.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12877-019-1063-9Accidental fallsAgedExerciseQualitative researcheHealthDigital health
spellingShingle Beatrice Pettersson
Maria Wiklund
Rebecka Janols
Helena Lindgren
Lillemor Lundin-Olsson
Dawn A. Skelton
Marlene Sandlund
‘Managing pieces of a personal puzzle’ — Older people’s experiences of self-management falls prevention exercise guided by a digital program or a booklet
BMC Geriatrics
Accidental falls
Aged
Exercise
Qualitative research
eHealth
Digital health
title ‘Managing pieces of a personal puzzle’ — Older people’s experiences of self-management falls prevention exercise guided by a digital program or a booklet
title_full ‘Managing pieces of a personal puzzle’ — Older people’s experiences of self-management falls prevention exercise guided by a digital program or a booklet
title_fullStr ‘Managing pieces of a personal puzzle’ — Older people’s experiences of self-management falls prevention exercise guided by a digital program or a booklet
title_full_unstemmed ‘Managing pieces of a personal puzzle’ — Older people’s experiences of self-management falls prevention exercise guided by a digital program or a booklet
title_short ‘Managing pieces of a personal puzzle’ — Older people’s experiences of self-management falls prevention exercise guided by a digital program or a booklet
title_sort managing pieces of a personal puzzle older people s experiences of self management falls prevention exercise guided by a digital program or a booklet
topic Accidental falls
Aged
Exercise
Qualitative research
eHealth
Digital health
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12877-019-1063-9
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