Exploring physical activity behaviour of persons with multiple sclerosis: a qualitative pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
Identify facilitators and barriers to physical activity (PA), and explore the utility of Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) and Transactional Model of Stress and Coping (TMSC) in understanding PA behaviour among persons with multiple sclerosis (MS).


METHODS
Thirteen participants from a clinical trial were interviewed and classified as physically active, sometimes active or inactive based on the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile-II. Interviews were analysed using analytical induction, which consisted of coding data into pre-established categories and then exploring similarities and differences between groups. Pre-established coding categories were constructs from SCT (i.e. environment, expectations, self-efficacy and self-regulation) and TMSC (i.e. stress appraisal and coping style).


RESULTS
Inactive and active participants differed in their self-regulation skills, self-efficacy and coping styles. Common barriers to PA included symptoms and the physical and social environment. Facilitators of PA included strong self-regulation skills, confidence to overcome symptoms to engage in PA (i.e. barrier self-efficacy) and positive coping styles.


CONCLUSIONS
Results from this pilot study suggest that PA interventions will need to implement multiple strategies that target self-efficacy, social environment and coping styles. We found SCT and TMSC useful in understanding PA behaviour among persons with MS; however, a limitation to these theories is that they are not explicit in the relationship between health and cognitions. Future research will need to explore how to incorporate models of health and function into existing behaviour change theories.
Plow
Matthew A
MA
Program in Rehabilitation Science, Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA.
Resnik
Linda
L
Allen
Susan M
SM
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D010865:Pilot Projects