Exercise benefits and barriers perceived by hemodialysis patients: relationship with fatigue and physical activity level

Abstract

Aims: The aim of our study was to determine the attitudes of hemodialysis (HD) patients towards exercise and to determine the relationship between physical activity level (PAL) and fatigue. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 113 HD patients (57.8±5.96) aged 18-65 years. Personal information form, fatigue impact scale (FIS), international physical activity questionnaire short form (IPAQ-SF), and dialysis patient-perceived exercise benefits and barriers scale (DPEBBS) were used as data collection tools. Results: The mean DPEBBS total score was 64.35±6.15 and PAL was low. The most commonly perceived exercise benefits were preventing muscle atrophy and maintaining a stable body weight, while the most common exercise barriers (EB) were not understanding how to exercise and fatigue. There was a weak negative correlation between the PAL of the patients with the Perceived Exercise Barriers subscale (r=-0.275, p=0.003) and a weak positive correlation between the total scale score (r=0.318, p=0.001). There was a weakly significant positive correlation between the Cognitive, Physical, Psychosocial sub-dimension of Fatigue and Total FIS with the Perceived Exercise Barriers sub-dimension (r=0.337, p=0.000; r=0.358, p=0.000; r=0.334, p=0.000; r=0.387, p=0.000). A very weakly significant negative correlation was found between the Fatigue Cognitive, Physical, Psychosocial sub-dimension and Fatigue Total Impact Dimension with the total scale score (r=-0.247, p=0.008; r=-0.234, p=0.013), r=-0.222, p=0.018, r=-0.243, p=0.003) . Conclusion: HD patients had higher perceptions of the benefits of exercise. It was concluded that the perception of EB decreased as PAL increased and the perception of EB increased as fatigue levels increased. It is recommended that specialized physiotherapists evaluate HD groups at risk in detail and create individual interventions that support HD patients' compliance with exercise.