Perspectives on adherence to prescribed home exercises after polytrauma: A qualitative study

South African Journal of Physiotherapy

 
 
Field Value
 
Title Perspectives on adherence to prescribed home exercises after polytrauma: A qualitative study
 
Creator Monaiwa, Keamogetswe Yazbek, Mariatha Magida, Nontembiso
 
Subject Physiotherapy; Home exercise program; adherence international classification of functioning and disability; adherence; polytrauma; home exercise programme; physiotherapy; facilitators; barriers
Description Background: Polytrauma can be life altering, requiring a holistic approach to reach the highest functional level. Physiotherapists prescribe home exercise programmes (HEPs) to prevent complications associated with immobility. Adherence to HEPs is crucial, yet factors influencing non-adherence remain underexplored.Objectives: Our study explored patients with polytrauma perspectives on adherence to prescribed HEPs.Method: A qualitative exploratory, descriptive design was used to recruit participants purposively from a rehabilitation unit in Tshwane district, South Africa. Participants diagnosed with polytrauma, aged 18 years or older, and prescribed a HEP were included, while those with cognitive impairments or language barriers were excluded. Consent was obtained while hospitalised, and participants were contacted 3 months post-discharge for telephonic semistructured interviews lasting 30–45 min. Ethical clearance (reference number: 595/2022) and institutional permission were granted. Interviews were audio-recorded and conducted until data were saturated. Data were verbatim transcribed and analysed thematically to identify key themes and sub-themes.Results: Thirteen participants (8 male and 5 female participants) with a mean age of 43.77 (standard deviation = 10.45) were interviewed. The four major themes were physical, psycho-cognitive, social and environmental factors. Adherence barriers were more significant than facilitators. The most frequently reported facilitator was family support, whereas the most commonly reported barrier was pain.Conclusion: Polytrauma patients identified more barriers than facilitators affecting HEP adherence. Pain significantly hindered adherence, while family support was a key enabler.Clinical implication: Physiotherapists should work collaboratively with patients to develop inclusive HEPs that consider their demographic, social, psychological, physical and environmental context.
 
Publisher AOSIS
 
Contributor —
Date 2025-06-11
 
Type info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion — Qualitative Study
Format text/html application/epub+zip text/xml application/pdf
Identifier 10.4102/sajp.v81i1.2163
 
Source South African Journal of Physiotherapy; Vol 81, No 1 (2025); 10 pages 2410-8219 0379-6175
 
Language eng
 
Relation
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https://sajp.co.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/2163/3938 https://sajp.co.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/2163/3939 https://sajp.co.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/2163/3940 https://sajp.co.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/2163/3941
 
Coverage — — —
Rights Copyright (c) 2025 Keamogetswe Monaiwa, Mariatha Yazbek, Nontembiso Magida https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
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