| Summary: | Background
Research concerning physical activity participation in the Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) population is limited. There is a need for investigation into barriers and facilitators to exercise faced by individuals with TBI.
Primary Objective
To determine what environmental, social and personal determinants best predict physical activity participation in people who have suffered a TBI.
Secondary Objective
To assess carer mood and strain, and to determine if there are any links between carer exercise participation and TBI exercise participation.
Method
A multi-centre cross-sectional questionnaire survey using convenience samples was administered across eight Headway brain injury day centres. The survey assessed physical activity participation, activities of daily living, self efficacy, social support and mood in TBI participants.
An optional carer questionnaire was also administered to assessing carer physical activity participation, carer mood and carer strain.
Outcomes
There were 63 individuals with TBI and 21 carers who participated in this study. Data was analysed using T-tests and Pearson’s Chi-square tests.
Those who exercised as per the governments recommended weekly guidelines (DH, 2000) had a higher Extended Activities of Daily Living score (t=-2.21, p<.05), a higher Self Efficacy score (t=-3.02, p<.05), had qualifications (χ2=5.61, p<.05) and road traffic accident was the cause of TBI (χ2=4.40, p<.05).
Following adjustment for multiple analyses using Logistic Regression, Self Efficacy was the only outcome to remain significantly related to physical activity.
Carer outcomes showed that carers experience low mood and 90.5% reported strain from caregiving. No significance was found between carer activity and TBI participant activity.
Conclusions
The relationship between self efficacy and physical activity participation is significant, yet it is not fully understood. Further research is needed to determine whether high self efficacy facilitates physical activity participation or if physical activity increases self efficacy. A qualitative based research study is recommended for more intensive analysis.
Carer mood and level of strain needs further investigation and analysis before accurate conclusions can be drawn.
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