Eldres erfaringer med regelmessig trening i gruppe: Fokusgruppeintervju med eldre over 80 år
Sammanfattning
Although physical exercise reduces risks of disease and improves older persons’ quality of life
and daily functioning, people become less active with advancing age and few exercise regularly. The
aim of the study was to illuminate older persons’ experiences of regularly exercising in groups.
Three focus group interviews were conducted with 18 community-dwelling people aged 80 years and
over. They were asked about their experiences of exercising regularly, changes in physical
functioning and health, and the value of exercising in groups. The interviews were analysed using
qualitative content analysis. Three main themes and five subthemes were identified. The findings
showed that exercising contributed to experiences of well-being, maintenance or improvement of
physical functioning. Exercising in groups resulted in companionship, satisfaction, mutual support
and encouragement. Self-efficacy was expressed in the interviews. Health personnel may enhance
physical exercise in older people by combining activities that promote wellbeing, maintenance or
improvement of physical functioning, and social contact. Self-efficacy can be enhanced by focusing
on physical progress and coping experiences and reducing risks and discomfort while exercising.