Abstract:
Level of physical activity among people with multimorbidity in selected health
facilities of Nepal
Background: The prevalence of NCD is increasing; death and disability resulting from
it is huge. With the increase in risk factors, habitual or environmental, the occurrence
of more than one morbidity is starting to be a norm. Being physically active is one of
the inevitable way of preventing, maintaining and reducing adverse effects from NCDs.
Assessing physical activity level in multimorbidity can give a picture of its status and
assessment of perception can how people are perceiving physical activity.
Methods: A cross-sectional study with purposive convenience sampling was done. 195
people with multimorbidity aged 20-69 were interviewed using a questionnaire with
demographics, GPAQ, and a self-made questionnaire for perception. Data analysis was
done using SPSS. Frequencies were generated for demographic variables, according to
level of physical activity and perception. The median physical activity was calculated
for domains of GPAQ across demographic variables and for perception. Non parametric
tests were done and spearman correlation for inferential statistics.
Results: The number of morbidities ranged from 2-4 in one person, 4 was present in 4
female participants. 95% participants met the WHO criteria for physical activity.
Median total physical activity was 3120 MET-minutes and median sedentary time per
day was 2 hours. Significance between subgroups was evident in age (p=0.039) and
ethnicity (p=0.00) only. Perception was good but people lacked behavioral change.
Although professional support was present, it correlated negatively with physical
activity(=-0.032;p=0.001).
Conclusion: Like the other researches done in Nepal, this study showed a majority of
participants had enough physical activity. Specific focus of physical activity and
exercises, habitual change from a younger age, multidisciplinary care procedures may
help to address proper plan for multimorbidity care.
Keywords: multimorbidity, Nepal, perception, physical activity
Description:
A thesis is submitted to the SSARC Regional Interprofessional Master’s Program in Rehabilitation Science of Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP) in conformity with the requirements for the Degree of M.Sc. in Rehabilitation Science, Bangladesh Health Professions Institute, Faculty of Medicine, the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh.
