Facilitators and Barriers to Exercise Influenced by Traditional Chinese Culture: A Qualitative Study of Chinese Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis

Abstract

Introduction: Exercise is recommended for patients undergoing hemodialysis to decrease morbidity and mortality. However, their exercise level is lower than healthy people. Understanding reasons behind their sedentary lifestyle is required. Traditional Chinese culture may have a profound impact on patients’ perceptions of exercise, particularly with regard to the relationship of overwork and kidney function and family members’ attitudes toward patients’ participation in exercise. Therefore, we sought to explore the facilitators and barriers to exercise influenced by traditional Chinese culture. Methods: We conducted semistructured interviews with 44 Chinese patients residing in Nantong of Jiangsu Province undergoing hemodialysis, aged 25 to 77 years. Interview questions focused on their perceptions of, attitudes to, and experiences with exercise. Each interview was digitally recorded and lasted from 40 to 60 minutes. Conventional content analysis was used to understand facilitators and barriers to exercise within their experience and perceptions. Findings: We found that specific Chinese cultural health beliefs informed by traditional Chinese medicine strongly affected patients’ attitudes and behaviors toward exercise. Participants in this study tended to believe that overwork impairs kidney functions and viewed strenuous exercise as overwork. Although participants admitted the benefits of exercise, they rejected strenuous exercise and regarded nearly all modalities of exercise with or without facilities (except walking) as strenuous exercise. The most common barriers to exercise were lack of motivation, bad weather, negative attitudes of family members toward patients’ doing exercise, and insufficient exercise information resources. The most common facilitators found in this study were their increased physical well-being and confidence from exercise. Group exercise supported by family members and positive attitudes toward obtaining exercise information were also motivators. Discussion: Chinese patients undergoing hemodialysis reported more barriers than facilitators to exercise. Perceptions and attitudes toward exercise informed by traditional Chinese culture may be hidden barriers to exercising. Our findings indicated that culturally sensitive and patient-centered exercise interventions for Chinese patients are urgently needed.