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Gym staff perspectives on disability inclusion: a qualitative study.
Caitríona Cunningham1, Grainne O'Donoghue1, Sinead Cosgrave1
1School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Disability and Rehabilitation
|February 22, 2022
Summary
Gym staff support disability inclusion, but enhanced training and community awareness are needed. Collaboration with healthcare professionals can improve exercise opportunities for people with disability.
Area of Science:
- Exercise Science
- Rehabilitation Science
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Promoting physical activity for people with disability is crucial for health and well-being.
- Gyms can serve as accessible environments for exercise, but barriers to inclusion persist.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore gym staff perspectives on the inclusion of people with disability in fitness settings.
- To identify facilitators and barriers to disability inclusion in gyms from the staff's viewpoint.
Main Methods:
- Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 gym staff across four urban facilities.
- Interpretive descriptive approach with reflexive thematic analysis, mapped to the socioecological model.
Main Results:
- Key themes included personal benefits of participation, interpersonal dynamics, organizational support (ethos, training, accessibility), community awareness, and policy.
- Staff desire collaboration with healthcare professionals and identified needs for enhanced training, transport, and community outreach.
Conclusions:
- Gym staff recognize the benefits of disability inclusion and value collaboration with rehabilitation professionals.
- Recommendations include standardized disability inclusion training, empowering individuals with disability in service planning, and enhancing community awareness and accessibility.
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