Exploring the facilitators and barriers to engagement in physical activity for people with multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Purpose. To explore the relationship that cognitive behavioural and other previously identified variables have with physical activity engagement in people with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Methods. This study adopted a cross-sectional questionnaire design. Participants were 282 individuals with MS. Outcome measures included the Physical Activity Disability Survey – Revised, Cognitive and Behavioural Responses to Symptoms Questionnaire, Barriers to Health Promoting Activities for Disabled Persons Scale, Multiple Sclerosis Self-efficacy Scale, Self-Efficacy for Chronic Diseases Scales and Chalder Fatigue Questionnaire.

Results. Multivariable stepwise regression analyses found that greater self-efficacy, greater reported mental fatigue and lower number of perceived barriers to physical activity accounted for a significant proportion of variance in physical activity behaviour, over that accounted for by illness-related variables. Although fear-avoidance beliefs accounted for a significant proportion of variance in the initial analyses, its effect was explained by other factors in the final multivariable analyses.

Conclusions. Self-efficacy, mental fatigue and perceived barriers to physical activity are potentially modifiable variables which could be incorporated into interventions designed to improve physical activity engagement. Future research should explore whether a measurement tool tailored to capture beliefs about physical activity identified by people with MS would better predict participation in physical activity.

Keywords:

• Multiple sclerosis
• physical activity
• engagement
• barriers
• facilitators

Acknowledgements

The authors thank all the participants for taking the time to participate in this study. The authors would also like to thank Gary McMahon and Tina French from MS Auckland and MS Specialist Nurses from the District Health Board for their assistance and support, the Health Research Council of New Zealand for funding and Dr Harry McNaughton for his involvement in the proposal development.