Exploring barriers to physical activity of patients at the internal medicine and surgical wards: a retrospective analysis of continuously collected data

Abstract

Purpose To analyse physical activity of patients during their hospital stay and to explore the relationship between physical activity and barriers to physical activity. Methods This was a secondary analysis of physical activity data for patients admitted to the internal medicine and surgical wards. Physical activity data, collected with a wireless patch sensor, was operationalized as time spent lying, sitting/standing, and walking. Barriers to physical activity included patients’ pain levels, the use of urinary catheters, intravenous tubing, oxygen lines, drains, and level of dependence. Regression analysis explored the relationship between physical activity and barriers to physical activity. Results Physical activity data were collected in 39 patients (aged 27–88, mean 54 years) during hospital stay. Patients were admitted for a median of 10 d (interquartile range [IQR]: 7–15 d). These patients were lying for a median of 12.1 h (7.6–17.7), sitting/standing 11.8 h (6.3–15.7), and walking 0.1 h (0–0.3) per day. Time lying during the day related to pain levels (β = 0.4 h per unit increase in pain, p < 0.01) and drain use (β = 3.1 h, p < 0.01). Conclusions Patients spent the most time during the hospital stay lying in bed. Improved pain management and decreased drain use may be worth exploring to increase inpatient physical activity. Implications for rehabilitation Continuous monitoring of physical activity in patients during hospital stay is an important tool for health care professionals to improve multidisciplinary care and rehabilitation. Health care professionals should be aware of the necessity of adequate pain management and critically review the use of drains in order to improve physical activity of patients during hospital stay. Patients need extra support of health care professionals to increase physical activity during consecutive days of their hospital stay.