Community use of a hospital pool by people with disabilities

Individuals with disabling conditions are one of the most physically inactive groups within society. Hospital hydrotherapy pools are a potential resource for people with disability living in the community to access aquatic physical activity.

The aim of this qualitative study was to discover why community dwelling individuals with disability choose a hospital pool over other public pools in the area.

The study site was a hospital pool in New Zealand. Semi-structured interviews were held with 38 individuals from 17 community user groups to determine reasons for choosing the hospital pool. Interviews were audio-taped, transcribed and analyzed inductively for themes.

The hospital hydrotherapy pool was perceived to be an invaluable facility, providing opportunity for people with disability to be physically active in a way that is pain free, enjoyable and beneficial for mind and body. In contrast public pool facilities within the metropolitan region are experienced and/or perceived as being inaccessible for people with disabilities due to physical, social and emotional barriers.

This hospital pool provides a highly appreciated but oversubscribed resource for the people with disability in the local environs. If pools in the public domain were able to offer warmer water in a user-friendly environment, then this would promote health and well being to individuals with disabling conditions.