Conceptualising adherence to exercise for musculoskeletal pain: A concept mapping study
[Correction added on 10-Jan-2023, after first online publication, third author’s affiliation details were updated.]
Abstract
Background
The concept of adherence to exercise for musculoskeletal (MSK) pain is poorly defined and inadequately measured. This study aimed to, (1) conceptualise adherence to exercise therapy for MSK pain, and (2) identify statements most representative of the new conceptualisation that could be developed into items for a new measurement tool.
Methods
Concept mapping methodology was used, which is an integrated mixed methods approach. Focus groups with stakeholders generated statements describing adherence to exercise for MSK pain. Statements were grouped according to themes and rated for importance. Data analysis via multidimensional scaling and hierarchical cluster analysis produced a series of concept maps, which were refined during a further stakeholder workshop to produce the final conceptualisation of exercise adherence. Mean importance ratings established statements most suitable for future development.
Results
Twenty-eight participants produced 100 unique statements concerning adherence, which were sorted and rated. Analysis of the sort data with further participant refinement concluded that adherence to exercise consists of six domains: communication with experts; targets; how exercise is prescribed; patient knowledge and understanding; motivation and support; and psychological approach and attitudes. Fifty-six statements were rated with above average importance for inclusion in a new measure of adherence to exercise for MSK pain.
Conclusion
Adherence to exercise for MSK pain is a complex and multi-dimensional construct represented by six distinct domains. Statements that best represent these domains have been identified by key stakeholders and will inform the development of a new measure of adherence to exercise for MSK pain.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Open Research
DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT
Keele University is a member of the UK Reproducibility Network and committed to the principles of the UK Concordat on Open Research Data. The School of Medicine has a longstanding commitment to sharing data from our studies to improve research reproducibility and to maximise benefits for patients, the wider public, and the health and care system. De-identified individual participant data (IPD) that underlie the results from this study are securely stored on servers approved by a government-backed cyber security scheme and made available to bona-fide researchers upon reasonable request via our controlled access procedures. Unless there are exceptional circumstances, data will be available upon publication of main study findings or within 18 months of study completion (whichever is earlier) and with no end date. Data requests and enquiries should be directed to [email protected]. We encourage collaboration with those who collected the data, to recognise and credit their contributions. The data generated from this study will remain the responsibility of the Sponsor. Release of data will be subject to a data use agreement between the Sponsor and the third party requesting the data. De-identified IPD will be encrypted on transfer.
