How Physiotherapists Promote Physical Activity at Long-term Care Facilities for Older Adults : A cross-sectional mixed methods study

Abstract: Introduction: Even though physical activity is important for older people living in long-term care facilities (LTCFs), many spend most of their time in sedentary activities. How physiotherapists, with competence in physical activity, promote physical activity for residents and how work experience and employment context affect physical activity promotion have not been described. Purpose: To describe how physiotherapists approach physical activity promotion for residents of LTCFs for older adults. Method: A cross-sectional study was performed using a digital survey sent via professional networks, to physiotherapists at LTCFs in Sweden. Participants were recruited via convenience sampling. Qualitative data were analysed through manifest inductive content analysis. Quantitative data were summarised descriptively for the whole group. Between-group comparisons were also made for work experience and employment context. Results: Ninety-seven survey responses were analysed from physiotherapists from half of the counties in Sweden. Eighty-eight percent of the responses were from women. Five categories emerged from the qualitative analysis: (1) Knowledge for active daily living; (2) Adapting to present circumstances and priorities; (3) Methods for exercise and staying active in daily living; (4) Actions and adjustments for the resident; and (5) Communication to promote activity. There were no significant differences between the compared groups. Conclusion: Physiotherapists at LTCFs for older adults used a range of measures to promote physical activity for residents, and to support the facility in promoting physical activity. Work experience and employment context did not influence how physiotherapists approached promoting physical activity in this study.