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. 2013 Sep-Oct;62(5):305-14.
doi: 10.1097/NNR.0b013e3182a03503.

Parent and child perceptions of a self-regulated, home-based exercise program for children with cystic fibrosis

Mary Beth Happ  1 , Leslie A Hoffman, Linda W Higgins, Dana Divirgilio, David M Orenstein
Affiliations

Parent and child perceptions of a self-regulated, home-based exercise program for children with cystic fibrosis

Mary Beth Happ et al. Nurs Res. 2013 Sep-Oct.

Erratum in

  • Nurs Res. 2014 Jan-Feb;63(1):25. DiVirgilio, Dana [corrected to Divirgilio, Dana]

Abstract

Background: Despite recognized benefits, many children with cystic fibrosis (CF) do not consistently participate in physical activities. There is little empirical literature regarding the feelings and attitudes of children with CF toward exercise programs, parental roles in exercise, or factors influencing exercise experiences during research participation.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to describe the exercise experiences of children with CF and their parents during participation in a 6-month program of self-regulated, home-based exercise.

Methods: This qualitative descriptive study was nested within a randomized controlled trial of a self-regulated, home-based exercise program and used serial semistructured interviews conducted individually at 2 and 6 months with 11 purposively selected children with CF and their parent(s).

Results: Six boys and five girls, ages 10-16 years, and parents(nine mothers, four fathers) participated in a total of 44 interviews. Five major thematic categories describing child and parent perceptions and experience of the bicycle exercise program were identified in the transcripts: (a) motivators, (b) barriers, (c) effort/work, (d) exercise routine, and (e) sustaining exercise. Research participation, parent-family participation, health benefits, and the child's personality traits were the primary motivators. Competing activities, priorities, and responsibilities were the major barriers in implementing the exercise program as prescribed. Motivation waned, and the novelty wore off for several (approximately half) parent-child dyads, who planned to decrease or stop the exercise program after the study ended.

Discussion: We identified motivators and barriers to a self-regulated, home-based exercise program for children with CF that can be addressed in planning future exercise interventions to maximize the health benefits for children with CF and the feasibility and acceptability to the children and their families.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to report.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Illustration of the “motivators” thematic category derivation with subcategories and the dimensional codes comprising each subcategory.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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