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Abstract Number: 2334

Understanding the Experiences of Rural Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Using a New DVD-Delivered Otago Exercise Programme

Arun Agha1, Teresa Liu-Ambrose1, Catherine Backman2 and Linda C. Li3, 1Department of Physical Therapy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada, 2Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada, 3Physical Therapy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Meeting: 2014 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting

Keywords: exercise, Fall Risk, physical therapy and qualitative

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Session Information

Title: Rehabilitation Sciences (ARHP)

Session Type: Abstract Submissions (ARHP)

Background/Purpose: Arthritis is known to increase the risk of injurious falls. The home-based Otago Exercise Programme (OEP) has been shown to reduce the occurrence of falls in community-dwelling seniors. We recently developed a new OEP DVD that was designed to be delivered with minimal coaching by a physiotherapist (PT), for people living in rural communities. The current study aimed to: 1) understand older adults’ experiences in using the DVD-delivered OEP, and 2) explore barriers and facilitators to implementing the DVD-delivered OEP from the participants’ perspectives.

Methods: Thirty-two rural community-dwelling older adults (≥75 years old) who participated in a 6-month DVD-delivered OEP study were invited to participate in this qualitative study. Two small group interviews were initially conducted to explore the breadth of participants’ experiences with the program. These were followed by semi-structured individual interviews to gain an in-depth understanding of these experiences. An inductive constant comparison analysis involving coding of transcripts was performed. Methodological rigour was ensured through field note taking, journaling and maintaining an audit trail. Further, peer-review was performed to detect issues in the analysis such as overemphasized or underemphasized points, vague descriptions, and assumptions made by the researcher.

Results: Five participants partook in group interviews and 16 in individual interviews. Fifteen participants were female; eight participants received at least some university education. Participants’ ages ranged from 74 to 97 years. Three themes emerged. Theme 1, ‘The OEP DVD: Useful training tool but in need of more pep’, reflected participants’ experiences that the DVD provided important guidance at program onset, but was too slow and low-energy for longer-term use. Theme 2, ‘Providing greater control over one’s exercise regimen, but sometimes life gets in the way of staying active’, described participants’ appreciation of the program’s flexibility, but personal health concerns and everyday lives imposed challenges for adhering to the program. Theme 3, ‘Social creatures: Wanting greater human connection during exercise’, described how some participants desired further social interactions for enhancing motivation and sense of guidance.

Conclusion: In general, participants were positive about the OEP DVD, but it might not be needed once they are familiar with the program. Our findings also suggest that the program should be prescribed with strategies to address barriers to exercising and tips to increase adherence, such as encouraging older adults to exercise with family members or peers.


Disclosure:

A. Agha,
None;

T. Liu-Ambrose,
None;

C. Backman,
None;

L. C. Li,
None.

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