It's like balancing on a slacklineA description of how adults with congenital heart disease describe themselves in relation to physical activity

作者：Bay Annika^*; Lamas Kristina; Berghammer Malin; Sandberg Camilla; Johansson Bengt

来源：Journal of Clinical Nursing, 2018, 27(15-16): 3131-3138.

DOI：10.1111/jocn.14507

• congenital heart disease
• content analysis
• interviews
• nursing
• physical activity
• prevention

Aims and objectivesTo illuminate how adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) describe themselves in relation to physical activity.
BackgroundSeveral studies have shown that adults with CHD have reduced exercise capacity and do not reach the recommended daily level of physical activity. With this in view, it is of immense importance to investigate how this population experiences physical activity.
DesignQualitative study with semistructured interviews analysed with qualitative content analysis.
MethodsSemistructured interviews were individually performed with 14 adults (women=7, age 19-68years) with complex CHD. Patients were purposively recruited from the clinic waiting list, based on a scheduled follow-up and diagnosis.
ResultsThe overall theme, Its like balancing on a slackline, illustrates how adults with CHD described themselves in relation to physical activity. This overall theme consisted of four subthemes: (a) Being an adventurerenjoying the challenges of physical activity; (b) Being a realistadapting to physical ability; (c) Being a non-doerlacking prerequisites for physical activity; and (d) Being an outsiderfeeling excluded depending on physical ability.
ConclusionsAdults with CHD seem to have a diverse relationship with physical activity and it involves various aspects throughout the lifespan. The findings point out factors that might constitute as obstacles for being physically active, specific for people with chronic conditions like CHD. This highlights the importance of further exploring the hindering and facilitating factors for being physically active to get a deeper understanding of how to support adults with CHD to be physically active.
Relevance to clinical practiceGiven the diverse relationship with physical activity, nurses have to further investigate the patients' relationship with physical activity, to support a healthy lifestyle. Nurses and allied health professionals should offer individualised exercise prescriptions and education about suitable physical activities in relation to physical ability.