Exploring physical activity experiences of community-dwelling oldest-old adults with chronic multimorbidity: A...

To explore the physical activity experiences of community-dwelling oldest-old adults with chronic multimorbidity.

Descriptive qualitative study.

Data collection was conducted through semi-structured interviews with 19 community-dwelling oldest-old adults with chronic multimorbidity. The study was conducted between December 2022 and May 2023. ATLAS.ti software was used for data analysis.

Three main themes with their respective sub-themes and units of meaning were developed from the data analysis: (1) motivational factors for engaging in physical activity; (2) fear of getting hurt during physical activity and (3) confidence in being physically active.

Motivation, kinesiophobia and confidence are three core elements that influence the experience of physical activity in oldest-old adults with chronic multimorbidity. Interventions tailored to meet the needs of the oldest-old adults are important for promotion and development of active ageing.

Nurses and other healthcare professionals should design, implement and evaluate interventions that aim to increase oldest-old adults' motivation and confidence, while decreasing their fear to engage in physical activity.

This study provides insights into the way community-dwelling oldest-old adults with chronic multimorbidity experience physical activity in their daily lives. Our findings suggest that motivation, kinesiophobia and confidence are key factors for oldest-old adults to engage in physical activity. These findings could contribute to the design and implementation of interventions that specifically aim at raising the physical activity levels of community-dwelling oldest-old adults with chronic multimorbidity.

The study findings are reported according to the COREQ guidelines.

No patient or public contribution.