تبيين فعاليت جسماني منظم از ديدگاه زنان مبتلا به ديابت: يك مطالعه كيفي

Regular physical activity from perspective of females with diabetes: A qualitative study

Background and Aim: An active lifestyle is a critical determinant of overall health, but females engage in less vigorous exercise and leisure-time physical activity than males, and their level of activity decreases further as they age. These low levels of activity lead to loss of muscular strength and flexibility, as well as overweight and obesity, and result in disability and premature mortality from coronary heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (USDHHS, 2000). So, we want to study the exercise beliefs of females with diabetes for intervention on their physical activities. Materials and Methods: In this study we conducted personal in-depth interview with 50 females in preparation stage to assess regular physical activity from diabetic femalesʹ perspectives. We use qualitative approach to gain insight regarding behavioral beliefs, normative beliefs and control beliefs that may influence diabetic femalesʹ physical activity. Duration of each interview lasting 45 minutes and all interviews had written, and analyzed with content analysis method consecutively. Results: We found that: (a) the most salient behavioral beliefs that participants of this study said: exercise improves physical/ psychological/ social and spiritual health. physical health includes blood sugar decrease, Weight control, decrease in blood pressure, and lipid profile; psychological health includes prevention of depression, stress, anxiety, improves mood; social health include increasing relationship and collaboration with others, and promotion of relationship with God in spiritual health; (b) relating to normative beliefs, at first family members, and secondly physician have the strongest normative influence on exercise, (c) and regarding control beliefs, psychosocial problems, Lack of access to exercise facilities for females, too expensive exercise facilities and lacking money, Other commitments (caregiver for others, work), family responsibilities, Weather (bad or poor weather), and lacking time obstruct exercise regularly. Conclusions: Diabetic females have varied beliefs about exercise include positive to negative. Researcher intended to promote exercise behavior, should targeting these beliefs, weak negative beliefs, emphasis to positive beliefs & use these results in their interventions.