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Abstract: FR-PO526

Perceived Exercise Barriers and Benefits in Haemodialysis and Peritoneal Dialysis Patients

Session Information

Category: Dialysis

  • 703 Dialysis: Peritoneal Dialysis

Authors

  • Lightfoot, Courtney J., University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
  • Wilkinson, Thomas James, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
  • Smith, Alice C., University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
Background

Patients receiving dialysis are extremely inactive. This may be due to uncertainty and lack of appropriate guidance about exercise, or due to a number of barriers that patients may perceive. Understanding dialysis patients’ perceived exercise barriers and benefits can inform interventions to address the barriers and promote the benefits, and increase exercise participation.

Methods

Perceived exercise barriers and benefits of 1017 haemodialysis patients (HD) [age: 63.1 (15.3) years; males: 653 (64%); white: 585 (58%)] and 124 peritoneal patients (PD) [age: 62.1 (15.2) years; males: 86 (69%); white: 95 (77%)] were assessed using the ‘Dialysis Patient-perceived Exercise Benefits and Barriers Scale’ (DPEBBS). Barriers and benefits to exercise were classed as binary variables (i.e. yes and no). Frequency analysis and chi-squared tests were conducted to compare the barriers and benefits perceived by HD and PD patients.

Results

The proportion of HD and PD patients who reported barriers and benefits to exercise is displayed in Figure 1. Significantly more HD patients than PD patients reported ‘reduces body pain’ (p=.013), ‘delays decline in body function’ (p=.010), and ‘improves quality of life’ (p=.033) as benefits. No significant differences in barriers were observed between the groups. Tiredness was the most commonly reported barrier by both groups.

Conclusion

The findings suggest that HD patients are more aware of the physical benefits of exercise than PD patients. This may be due to HD patients being better informed about the benefits and more actively encouraged to exercise than PD patients via regular contact with healthcare professionals. However, more evidence is needed to determine factors that may influence HD and PD patients’ physical activity levels prior to developing exercise interventions.

Funding

  • Private Foundation Support