The Perceived Roles of Exercise and Sports by inpatients of Rehabilitation Therapy at Karin Grech Rehabilitation Hospital (Malta)

BACKGROUNDː Exercise forms a crucial part of any rehabilitation program and is a key tool in inpatient therapy. The patients' own perceived roles and benefits of exercise after discharge from hospital is pivotal in determining whether physical activity and exercise are continued within the community. Furthermore, the perception of the role of sports, as a separate entity from exercise, is also unknown, in spite of its several known benefits. METHODSː All patients under 75 years of age, that were admitted for inpatient rehabilitation between 2018 and 2019 to Karin Grech Rehabilitation Hospital (Malta) were invited to participate in a telephone based questionnaire. This questionnaire was aimed at identifying the patients' views related to the roles of exercise and sports in their lives prior to their admission to hospital, and how such views have changed after being discharged from inpatient rehabilitation. RESULTSː Out of 165 patients that were recruited for the study, 93 patients have responded to the telephone based questionnaire. Most participants have reported that they have strongly agreed that exercise has helped in improving their quality of life (QOL) (62%), mental well-being (61%) and social life (52%). Similar results for views related to sports have also been obtained. Post rehabilitation, 65% of patients have stated that they were participating in a form of exercise, compared to 37% before rehab (χ2 = 42.3, p = 0.00 (p < 0.05)). The barriers limiting participation in exercise and sports were found to be personal (financial = 61%, lack of time =47% and dependence on others = 33%) as well as environmental (lack of suitable facilities = 42%, lack of assistance by trained personnel = 36% and lack of accessibility =33%). CONCLUSIONS: Individuals discharged following inpatient rehabilitation were significantly more prone to be participating in exercise or sports 1 year after discharge. Both personal and environmental barriers have been identified limiting participation. Work is needed in promoting changes in infrastructure that would facilitate participation as well as guidelines aimed at maximising exercise promotion in patients post rehabilitation.