Successful Practices in Performing and Maintaining Physical Activity in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Qualitative Study

Mireia Vilafranca Cartagena (), Antonia Arreciado Marañón, Eva Artigues-Barbera and Glòria Tort-Nasarre
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Mireia Vilafranca Cartagena: Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Science and Welfare, University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia (UVIC-UCC), Av. Universitària 4-6, 08242 Manresa, Spain
Antonia Arreciado Marañón: Department of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Campus Bellaterra, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
Eva Artigues-Barbera: Balafia Primary Care Center, Av. de Rosa Parks. Gerència Territorial Lleida, Catalan Health Institute (ICS), 08007 Barcelona, Spain
Glòria Tort-Nasarre: Department of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Physiotherapy, University of Lleida, C/Montserrat Roig, 25198 Lleida, Spain

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 21, 1-17

Abstract: Physical activity has proven to be greatly beneficial in patients with DM2. However, few adhere to physical activity recommendations and are motivated to engage in regular physical activity and the numerous interventions conducted to change their habits tend to be unsuccessful in the long term. The objective in this research is to study patients who adhere to physical activity in order to guide patients who have not succeeded in making this change, assisted by the successful tools in the context of community nursing. A qualitative descriptive study was conducted. The sample included 10 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who adhered to physical activity in Catalonia, Spain, having been selected using intentional sampling. We recorded semi-structured interviews with the participants and conducted a thematic analysis. Five categories were identified and grouped into two themes: (1) Integrate physical activity as a lifestyle (meaning of DM2 and physical activity, adaptation to change and strategies on a day-to-day basis, physical activity) and (2) Find support to change physical activity (company and personal motivational strategies). In conclusion, a good adherence to physical activity was achieved thanks to motivation maintained over time related to autonomous motivation and the psychological and physiological benefits that physical activity provides patients, external support and encouragement, and the allocation of time to adhere without making great lifestyle changes.

Keywords: diabetes mellitus; type 2; exercise; motivations; nurses; primary healthcare; qualitative research; public health practice (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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