Lessons Learned From a Physical Activity Intervention in Psychiatric Treatment: Patient, Staff, and Leader Perspectives

Abstract

Objective: To explore how the implementation of a motivational physical activity (PA) intervention for inpatients with severe mental illness was experienced by patients, staff, and leaders at a psychiatric institution. Method: After the intervention individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with patients (n = 6) and staff (n = 6), and a focus group interview was conducted with the leaders (n = 4). Results: All had a positive view on PA as part of psychiatric treatment, thinking it would benefit the patients' health. There were some differences among the groups as to the importance of PA relative to traditional treatments. Positive outcomes were reported from all three groups, but with different foci. The patients and the staff underscored the importance of PA professionals in order to achieve high quality activities, whereas the leaders, due to restraints in resources, could not prioritize to hire PA professionals. Conclusion: PA was considered a positive part of treatment. Ideas about what it takes to obtain the potential physical, mental, and social benefits of PA differed between patients, the staff involved, and the leaders. Having staff with PA as a primary responsibility and with sufficient competence as PA instructors seems to be important.

Perceptions of patients with psychosis on living an active lifestyle

“…This supports previous research findings regarding barriers to being physical active while living in an institution or during periods in life where severe mental illness is more present (Fraser et al, 2015;Newberry et al, 2018). Moreover, this finding supports researchers who recently claimed that this patient group is motivated to be more physically active, but need adapted and structural support in how the activities are offered (Farholm et al, 2017;Sørensen et al, 2020). In addition, it seems of high importance to individualise the physical activity programs within psychiatric treatment (Sørensen et al, 2021).…”

“…However, future studies should strive either to include more participants or aim for a richer data collection by following the participants over time with several interviews (Smith & Sparkes, 2016). To incorporate different perspectives in such a study, including those of staff, family and friends could also be of interest (e.g., Sørensen et al, 2020).…”

Examining the Role of Instructor-Student Relationship Quality in Yoga

“…Studies comparing the effects of yoga and physical activity interventions in both healthy and clinical population have reported comparable outcomes on a variety of health-related measures (Penedo & Dahn, 2005). Although research evaluating the efficacy of physical activity interventions has highlighted the importance of social factors such as relatedness, social support, PSYCHOLOGICAL TOPICS, 31 (2022), 1, 77-94 and coach/trainer behaviours (e.g., Sørensen et al, 2020), the influence of instructorstudent relationship quality in yoga has not been explored.…”