What Motivates Older Sedentary People Living With HIV in the United States to Participate in an Exercise Trial? A Qualitative Study

Evelyn Iriarte; Allison R Webel; Paul F Cook; Ashley Turner; Grace L Ditzenberger; Kristine M Erlandson; Catherine Jankowski

doi:10.1097/JNC.0000000000000517

What Motivates Older Sedentary People Living With HIV in the United States to Participate in an Exercise Trial? A Qualitative Study

J Assoc Nurses AIDS Care. 2024 Dec 24. doi: 10.1097/JNC.0000000000000517. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Evelyn Iriarte^{1

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7}, Allison R Webel^{1

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7}, Paul F Cook^{1

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7}, Ashley Turner^{1

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7}, Grace L Ditzenberger^{1

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7}, Kristine M Erlandson^{1

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7}, Catherine Jankowski^{1

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Affiliations

¹ Evelyn Iriarte, PhD, MSN, RN, was an Adjunct Instructor, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile School of Nursing, Santiago, Chile, and was a Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Colorado College of Nursing, Aurora, Colorado, USA. Dr. Iriarte is now an Assistant Professor, University of Colorado College of Nursing, Aurora, Colorado, USA.
² Allison R. Webel, RN, PhD, FAAN, is a Professor and Associate Dean for Research, University of Washington, School of Nursing, Seattle, Washington, USA.
³ Paul F. Cook, PhD, is a Professor, University of Colorado College of Nursing, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA.
⁴ Ashley Turner, MS, RN, is a PhD student, University of Colorado College of Nursing, Aurora, Colorado, USA.
⁵ Grace L. Ditzenberger, PT, DPT, is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Divisions of Infectious Diseases and Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA.
⁶ Kristine M. Erlandson, MD, MSc, is an Associate Professor in the Divisions of Infectious Diseases and Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA.
⁷ Catherine Jankowski, PhD, is an Associate Professor, University of Colorado College of Nursing, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA.

PMID: 39718367
DOI: 10.1097/JNC.0000000000000517

Abstract

Although exercise supports the physical function and health of older people living with HIV (PLWH), less than half of PLWH globally achieve recommended levels of activity. A qualitative descriptive design was used to determine what motivates sedentary PLWH, 50 years and older, to participate in an exercise trial. Interviews were conducted with PLWH who participated in an exercise trial (n = 30) and PLWH who declined enrollment in the same exercise trial (n = 4). The theory of planned behavior (TPB) guided a directed content analysis of the interviews. Data analysis identified four themes: (a) intention or motivation (perceived benefits, maintaining the exercise behavior over time), (b) attitudes (goals and preferences), (c) perceived behavioral control (barriers, facilitators, and self-efficacy), and (d) subjective norms (pressure from health care providers and social networks). Findings from our study contribute to informing the development of future exercise interventions or trials and to planning care to encourage a physically active lifestyle.