AUTHOR=Hale Leigh , Higgs Christopher , Keen Donna , Smith Catherine 

TITLE=Long Term Exercise Engagement of Adults Living With Type Two Diabetes Is Enhanced by a Person-Centred Care Approach Delivered by Knowledgeable, Well Trained Health Care Professionals

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences

VOLUME=Volume 2 - 2021

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/rehabilitation-sciences/articles/10.3389/fresc.2021.692311

DOI=10.3389/fresc.2021.692311

ISSN=2673-6861

ABSTRACT=Background: Regular engagement in exercise or physical activity is a key evidenced based recommendation in the self-management of type two diabetes (T2D). The Diabetes Community Exercise Programme (DCEP) is an exercise and educational program aimed at supporting adults living with T2D to take control of their health and to live well with T2D. It was specifically developed to enhance the self-efficacy of people to engage in exercise long term and is underpinned by the spirit of Motivational Interviewing. This paper explores what DCEP attendees and health care professionals (HCPs) who deliver the program perceived DCEP to be and what motivated attendance. Such insights further knowledge of how people with T2D can be supported to engage in exercise or physical activity programs.
Method: This qualitative study used open-ended interviews of 15 DCEP attendees and 12 HCPs delivering DCEP. Interviews occurred at completion of the initial twice-a-week, 12-week duration part of the program, prior to attendees continuing onto a twice-weekly maintenance exercise class which forms the second part of the program. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analyzed with the General Inductive Approach.
Results: The two themes constructed from the analysis were the Package and the Wrapping. The Package comprised of four core components that supported attendees to engage in exercise, namely Education, Exercise, Monitoring, and HCP Training. The Wrapping spoke to the processes, either present or should be included, that held the Package together, such as appropriate venues, flexible approaches to time of day and the requirement of good administrative support.
Conclusion: DCEP did motivate people with T2D to engage in exercise. Important to this was the emphasis on a person-centered approach that focused on the educational and social aspects of the program, which in turn facilitated exercise engagement. Imperative is knowledgeable health care professionals who require training in the delivery of person-centered care to tailor the exercise and education to the individual. Equally important are optimal exercise environments and well-trained administrative support.