title: Multiple sclerosis patients need and want information on exercise promotion from healthcare providers: a qualitative study.
abstract: There is growing recognition of the benefits and safety of exercise and its importance in the comprehensive care of persons with multiple sclerosis (MS), yet uptake is low.
  
  
  
  We explored the needs and wants of patients with MS regarding exercise promotion through healthcare providers.
  
  
  
  Participants were adults with MS who had mild-or-moderate disability and a range of exercise levels. All participants lived in the Midwest of the United States.
  
  
  
  Fifty semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysed using thematic analysis. Two themes emerged, namely interactions between patients and healthcare providers and needs and wants of patients.
  
  
  
  Analysis of participant accounts illustrate that current exercise promotion by healthcare providers does not meet patient needs and wants. The identified needs and wants of persons with MS involved (i) information and knowledge on the benefits of exercise and exercise prescription, (ii) materials to allow home and community exercise and (iii) tools for initiating and maintaining exercise behaviour.
  
  
  
  Patients with MS frequently interact with healthcare providers and are generally unsatisfied with exercise promotion during interactions. Healthcare providers can address the low uptake of exercise among persons with MS by acting upon the identified unmet needs involving materials, knowledge and behaviour change strategies for exercise.
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Yvonne C
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Learmonth
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Brynn C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Adamson
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Julia M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Balto
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Chung-Yi
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.affiliation: Department of Latina/Latino Studies, Department of Media & Cinema Studies, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Molina-Guzman
authors.affiliation: School of Rehabilitation Therapy, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Marcia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Finlayson
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Barry J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Riskin
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Motl
mesh_terms: D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis; D036301:Qualitative Research; D014481:United States
keywords: exercise promotion; healthcare communication; multiple sclerosis; qualitative