Exercise Benefits and Barriers: The Perceptions of People Receiving Hemodialysis

Negative perceptions of people receiving hemodialysis towards exercise have been proposed as barriers to exercise. The aims of this study were to explore perceptions of patients on hemodialysis concerning exercise and to investigate whether exposure to an exercise program was associated with patients' perceptions. Participants (n=274) from 10 hemodialysis clinics completed an adapted English-language version of the Dialysis Patient-Perceived Exercise Benefits and Barriers Scale. Most patients agreed that exercise was positive towards preventing muscular wasting, bone disease, keeping body weight at a steady level, improving mood and quality of life, and enhancing their selfcare activities. Reported barriers to exercise were treatment side effects, fear of falling, family burden, exercise knowledge, and vascular access. The majority perceived exercise as positive for them and for people receiving hemodialysis. Patients who had witnessed or participated in an exercise program were more positive towards exercise than those who had not.