title: Increased self-efficacy: the experience of high-intensity exercise of nursing home residents with dementia - a qualitative study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There has been increasing interest in the use of non-pharmacological interventions, such as physical exercise, to improve the well-being of nursing home residents with dementia. For reasons regarding disease symptoms, persons with dementia might find it difficult to participate in exercise programs. Therefore, it is important to find ways to successfully promote regular exercise for patients in residential care. Several quantitative studies have established the positive effects of exercise on biopsychosocial factors, such as self-efficacy in older people; however, little is known regarding the qualitative aspects of participating in an exercise program among older people with dementia. From the perspective of residents, we explored the experiences of participating in a high-intensity functional exercise program among nursing home residents with dementia.
  
  
  METHODS
  The participants were eight elderly people with mild-to-moderate dementia. We conducted semi-structured interviews one week after they had finished a 10-week supervised high-intensity exercise program. We analyzed the data using an inductive content analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five overreaching and interrelated themes emerged from the interviews: "Pushing the limits," "Being invested in," "Relationships facilitate exercise participation," "Exercise revives the body, increases independence and improves self-esteem" and "Physical activity is a basic human necessity--use it or lose it!" The results were interpreted in light of Bandura's self-efficacy theory. The exercise program seemed to improve self-efficacy through several mechanisms. By being involved, "being invested in" and having something expected of them, the participants gained a sense of empowerment in their everyday lives. The importance of social influences related to the exercise instructor and the exercise group was accentuated by the participants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The nursing home residents had, for the most part, positive experiences with regard to participating in the exercise program. The program seemed to increase their self-efficacy through several mechanisms. The instructor competence emerged as an important facilitating factor. The participants emphasized the importance of physical activity in the nursing home.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences, Oslo, 0130, Norway. ceciliefromholt@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Cecilie Fromholt
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Olsen
authors.affiliation: Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences, Oslo, 0130, Norway. elisabeth-wiken.telenius@hioa.no.
authors.forename: Elisabeth Wiken
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Telenius
authors.affiliation: Oslo university Hospital, Ageing and Health, Norwegian Centre for Research, Education and Service Development, Oslo, 0424, Norway. knut.engedal@aldringoghelse.no.
authors.forename: Knut
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Engedal
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences, Oslo, 0130, Norway. astrid.bergland@hioa.no.
authors.forename: Astrid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bergland
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003704:Dementia; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes; D005082:Physical Exertion; D036301:Qualitative Research; D020377:Self Efficacy