Physical Activity Together for MS: Quality Participation Experiences of People With Multiple Sclerosis and Their...

Despite unequivocal evidence for the benefits of regular physical activity (PA), many people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and their family caregivers find it challenging to fully participate to the same extent as the general population. Achieving full participation in PA requires addressing both quantity and quality of participation. Although elements fostering quality participation (QP) in people with disabilities are increasingly recognized, our knowledge of how QP is experienced and fostered in dyadic PA interventions targeting MS dyads is limited. Therefore, we aimed to explore QP experiences of MS dyads during a 12-week, group-based, dyadic, behavioral PA intervention to inform future efforts to optimize full participation in PA in these groups.

We conducted semistructured interviews with 6 participants who completed the dyadic intervention. Data were inductively analyzed using thematic analysis and deductively mapped to the Quality Parasport Participation Framework.

We identified 6 themes mapped to the 6 building blocks (autonomy, belonging, challenge, engagement, mastery, and meaning) of quality participation that provide insights into how people with MS and their caregivers experienced QP in the intervention. Additionally, various intervention characteristics that fostered QP experiences were identified, including the dyadic approach, program duration, financial incentivization, individualized tailoring of program components, group composition and dynamics, facilitator knowledge and expertise related to MS and caregiving, and the opportunity for participants to apply the knowledge gained in the group sessions.

Our findings outline QP considerations for researchers and interventionists designing dyadic PA programs in MS, offering insights that can inform the development of such programs to support full participation for both people with MS and their caregivers.