RESUMO
Purpose: Access to pre- and post-transplant supervised exercise programmes in Canada is not consistent across organ types. The opinions of solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients can contribute to the discussion among stakeholders regarding increasing the availability of supervised exercise programmes. The objective of the study was to determine Canadian SOT recipients' opinions of pre- and post-transplant supervised exercise programmes and the factors that influenced their participation. Method: An Internet-based questionnaire was distributed to members of the Canadian Transplant Association. It was part of a larger survey and examined seven items related to accessibility to, and opinion of, supervised exercise programmes. Results: A total of 35% (n=39) of respondents had attended a pre-transplant exercise programme, and 54% (n=61) had attended a post-transplant exercise programme. The majority of participants believed that a supervised exercise programme was beneficial to health and well-being. Perception of benefits, a physician's recommendation, and health status and symptoms were key influencing factors in the decision of whether to attend a pre- or post-transplant exercise programme. Conclusion: SOT recipients had positive opinions of supervised exercise programmes despite unequal access among organ groups. Some key influencing factors (e.g., a physician's recommendation) are modifiable and should be taken into consideration to encourage participation in such programmes.
Objectif : l'accès à un programme d'exercice supervisé avant et après une greffe au Canada est inégal selon le type d'organe. L'opinion des personnes ayant reçu une greffe d'organe plein (GOP) peut enrichir les discussions des intervenants concernant l'augmentation de l'offre de tels programmes. Cette étude vise à déterminer l'opinion des greffés sur les programmes d'exercice supervisés avant et après la greffe et les facteurs qui ont influencé leur participation. Méthodes : un questionnaire en ligne a été envoyé aux membres de l'Association canadienne des greffés. Ce questionnaire faisait partie d'un sondage plus vaste et portait sur sept aspects liés à l'accessibilité des programmes d'exercice supervisés et à l'opinion à leur égard. Résultats : au total, 35 % (n=39) des répondants avaient participé à un programme d'exercice avant leur greffe, et 54 % (n=61) avaient participé à un programme après leur greffe. La majorité des participants était d'avis qu'un programme d'exercice supervisé avait des bienfaits sur la santé et le bien-être. La décision de participer ou non à un programme d'exercice avant ou après la greffe était influencée par les facteurs suivants : la perception des bienfaits, la recommandation d'un médecin ainsi que l'état de santé et les symptômes. Conclusion : les personnes ayant reçu une GOP ont une opinion favorable des programmes d'exercice supervisés malgré l'inégalité de l'accès selon les groupes d'organes. Certains facteurs (p. ex., la recommandation d'un médecin) sont modifiables et devraient être pris en considération afin de favoriser la participation à ces programmes.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Our objectives were to describe the physical activity (PA) levels, predictors, barriers, and facilitators to PA in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients. METHODS: A web-based questionnaire was sent to members of the Canadian Transplant Association including the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE), and questions regarding barriers and facilitators of PA. RESULTS: One hundred and thirteen SOT recipients completed the survey. The median PASE score was 164.5 (24.6-482.7). Re-transplantation was the only statistically significant predictor of levels of PA. The most common facilitators of PA included a feeling of health from activity (94%), motivation (88%), social support (76%), knowledge and confidence about exercise (74%) and physician recommendation (59%). Influential barriers were cost of fitness centers (42%), side effects post-transplant or from medications (41%), insufficient exercise guidelines (37%), and feelings of less strength post-transplant (37%). CONCLUSION: There is a large variation in PA levels among SOT recipients. Multiple factors may explain the variance in PA levels in SOT recipients. Identification of facilitators and barriers to PA can inform the development of health and educational promotion strategies to improve participation among SOT recipients with low activity levels.