title: "We're not just sitting on the periphery": a staff perspective of physical activity in older adults with schizophrenia.
abstract: Targeted physical activity interventions to improve the poor physical function of older adults with schizophrenia are necessary but currently not available. Given disordered thought processes and institutionalization, it is likely that older adults with schizophrenia have unique barriers and facilitators to physical activity. It is necessary to consider the perspective of the mental health staff about barriers and facilitators to physical activity to design a feasible intervention.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the perceptions of mental health staff about barriers and facilitators to engage in physical activities that promote physical function among older adults with schizophrenia.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted qualitative interviews with 23 mental health staff that care for older adults with schizophrenia. The data were collected and analyzed with grounded theory methodology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The participants were interested in promoting physical activity with older adults with schizophrenia. Facilitators and barriers to physical activity identified were mental health, role models and rewards, institutional factors, and safety.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In order to design successful physical activity interventions for this population, the intervention may need to be a routine part of the mental health treatment program and patients may need incentives to participate. Staff should be educated that physical activity may provide the dual benefit of physical and mental health treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiological Nursing, University of California, 2 Koret Way, N631A, Box 0610, San Francisco, CA 94143-0610, USA. heather.leutwyler@nursing.ucsf.edu
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Leutwyler
authors.forename: Erin M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Hubbard
authors.forename: Dilip V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Jeste
authors.forename: Sophia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vinogradov
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009043:Motor Activity; D010465:Perception; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology