Facilitators and barriers to health enhancing physical activity in individuals with severe functional limitations after stroke: A qualitative study

Current Status of Barriers to mHealth Access Among Patients With Stroke and Steps Toward the Digital Health Era: Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Mobile health (mHealth) offers significant benefits for patients with stroke, facilitating remote monitoring and personalized health care solutions beyond traditional settings. However, there is a dearth of comprehensive data, particularly qualitative insights, on the barriers to mHealth access. Understanding these barriers is crucial for devising strategies to enhance mHealth use among patients with stroke.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to examine the recent literature focusing on barriers to mHealth access among patients with stroke.

METHODS

A systematic search of PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science, and CINAHL Plus Full Text was conducted for literature published between 2017 and 2023. Abstracts and full texts were independently screened based on predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data synthesis was performed using the convergent integrated analysis framework recommended by the Joanna Briggs Institute.

RESULTS

A total of 12 studies met the inclusion criteria. The majority were qualitative studies (about 42%), followed by mixed methods (25%), pilot studies (about 17%), nonrandomized controlled trials (about 8%), and observational studies (about 8%). Participants included patients with stroke, caregivers, and various health care professionals. The most common mHealth practices were home-based telerehabilitation (30%) and poststroke mHealth and telecare services (20%). Identified barriers were categorized into two primary themes: (1) at the patient level and (2) at the health provider-patient-device interaction level. The first theme includes 2 subthemes: health-related issues and patient acceptability. The second theme encompassed 3 subthemes: infrastructure challenges (including software, networking, and hardware), support system deficiencies, and time constraints.

CONCLUSIONS

This systematic review underscores significant barriers to mHealth adoption among patients with stroke. Addressing these barriers in future research is imperative to ensure that mHealth solutions effectively meet patients' needs.

Barriers and facilitators to self-management among women with gestational diabetes: A systematic review using the COM-B model

BACKGROUND

Gestational diabetes mellitus is a common complication during pregnancy, and its prevalence rates have increased dramatically in recent years. Treatment of gestational diabetes requires the active self-management, however, this can be challenging. Understanding the barriers and facilitators of adherence to self-management recommendations is essential for designing effective interventions.

AIM

To identify and synthesize barriers and facilitators to self-management of gestational diabetes reported by pregnant women.

METHODS

This was a mixed-methods systematic review, including qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods studies. A literature search was conducted in four databases (PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and the Web of Science). Eligible studies explored the barriers and/or facilitators, experiences and/or perceptions to engage in self-management in women with gestational diabetes. The Capability, Opportunity, Motivation, Behaviour model was used to classify barriers and facilitators affecting self-management.

RESULTS

Thirty-six studies (23 qualitative, 11 quantitative, and 2 mixed-methods) met the inclusion criteria. We identified barriers and facilitators relating to capability (e.g., physical discomforts and constraints; lack of knowledge of GDM and self-management behaviours; forgetfulness), opportunity (e.g., limited education and resources; social support from family, friends, and peer groups; conflict with existing lifestyles or cultural norms), and motivation (e.g., perceived negative consequence of self-management behaviours or not perceived benefits; negative emotion; concern the health of the baby).

CONCLUSION

In this study, we identified the barriers and facilitators of self-management in women with gestational diabetes, which were explained by relevant theoretical models. Interventions should be developed with full consideration of these findings to ensure that pregnant women have the correct knowledge and confidence to self-manage their complications.

Reduced physical activity level was associated with poorer quality of life during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic: a sub-study of the last-long trial

OBJECTIVES

To assess how physical activity levels changed in a stroke cohort during the COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, and how these changes were associated with quality of life (QoL).

METHODS

Between March and July 2021, 150 patients with stroke already included in the Life after Stroke (LAST-long) trial in Norway were invited to participate in this cross-sectional survey. Participants were asked to complete a questionnaire assessing changes in physical activity and self-reported health following the pandemic. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to explore the association between physical activity, loneliness, mental health, social activity and QoL.

RESULTS

In all, 118 (79%) participants completed the questionnaire. A total of 80 (68%) reported less physical activity, 46 (39%) felt lonelier, and 43 (37%) reported worse mental health, while 50 (42%) reported reduced QoL compared with before the lockdown. In the univariate analyses less physical activity, feeling lonelier and changes in mental health were associated with reduced QoL. In the multivariate analysis only less physical activity odds ratio (OR) = 4.04 (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.44-11.34, p = 0.008) was significantly associated with reduced QoL.

CONCLUSION

More than two-thirds of patients with stroke reported reduced physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic, and less physical activity was strongly associated with reduced QoL.