Barriers to and Facilitators of Access and Participation in Community-Based Exercise Programmes from the Perspective of Adults with Post-stroke Aphasia.
OBJECTIVE
To explore communication-related experiences with accessing and participating in community-based exercise programmes from the perspective of adults with post-stroke aphasia.


METHODS
Adults with mild to severe post-stroke aphasia were recruited from the Aphasia Institute (AI), Toronto, Canada, for a qualitative descriptive study using semi-structured, in-depth one-on-one interviews. Participants were asked to identify facilitators of, barriers to, and strategies for joining and participating in exercise programmes. Interview data were analyzed using conventional content analysis.


RESULTS
Ten adults with mild (40%), moderate (40%), or severe (20%) aphasia participated in this study. The majority of participants were men (60%) aged 60-69 years (40%). Participants experienced a combination of communication, environmental, and personal facilitators of and barriers to accessing and participating in community-based exercise programmes. Strategies to enhance participation can be applied at both programme and individual levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings may inform clinical practice and programming to optimize access to and participation in community-based exercise programmes for adults with post-stroke aphasia.
Department of Physical Therapy, University of Toronto.
Diane C
DC
Blonski
Department of Physical Therapy, University of Toronto.
Megan
M
Covert
Department of Physical Therapy, University of Toronto.
Roxanne
R
Gauthier
Department of Physical Therapy, University of Toronto.
Alanna
A
Monas
Department of Physical Therapy, University of Toronto.
Danielle
D
Murray
Department of Physical Therapy, University of Toronto.
Kelly K
KK
O'Brien
Department of Physical Therapy, University of Toronto ; Baycrest.
Anita Debbie
AD
Mendelson
Department of Physical Therapy, University of Toronto ; Family Service Toronto, Toronto, ON.
Maria
M
Huijbregts
aphasia; exercise; program accessibility; social participation; stroke