Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Physical activity correlates among persons with type 2 diabetes in Jamaica

  • Original Article
  • Published:
International Journal of Diabetes in Developing Countries Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Despite the importance of physical activity in the management of diabetes, many persons with diabetes do not meet the recommended levels. This may be influenced by lack of knowledge of the benefits of exercise and common barriers such as lack of time. The purpose of this study was to determine the factors associated with physical activity level in Jamaicans with type 2 diabetes. One hundred and ninety-four persons participated. A demographic questionnaire, a questionnaire to assess knowledge of exercise benefits, the barriers section of the Exercise Benefits and Barriers Questionnaire and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire were administered. The mean age of the sample was 57.5 years. Thirty-eight point seven percent (38.7%) was low active, 33.5% was moderately active and 26% was highly active. Common barriers were the following: perception of exercise as hard work, exercise as tiring and exercise as fatiguing. A greater percentage of those who were low active perceived exercise as tiring compared to those who were highly active (p = 0.004). Younger persons were more active than older persons (p = 0.005), and employed persons were more active than the unemployed (p = 0.000). Knowledge was not significantly related to physical activity level. Physical activity level is low in persons with diabetes in Jamaica. Perception of exercise as hard work, tiring and fatiguing is a common barrier. Older persons and the unemployed are more likely to be inactive. Education and individualized physical activity counselling are necessary to assist with overcoming barriers and increasing physical activity in this population.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. World Health Organization. Global report on diabetes, 2016. http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/204871/1/9789241565257_eng.pdf. Accessed August 5 2016.

  2. Jamaica, Ministry of Health. Diabetes fact sheet 2011. Kingston: Ministry of Health; 2011.

  3. Wilks R, Younger N, Tulloch-Reid M, McFarlane S, Francis D, Gordon-Strachan G, et al. Jamaica health and lifestyle survey 2: Epidemiology Research Unit, The University of the West Indies; 2008. Dec. Technical Report. Cert # 4533\\04

  4. Shaw JE, Sicree RA, Zimmet PZ. Global estimates of the prevalence of diabetes for 2010 and 2030. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2010;87:4–14.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Caspersen CJ, Powell KE, Christenson GM. Physical activity, exercise and physical fitness: definitions and distinctions for health-related research. Public Health Rep. 1985;100(2):126–31.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  6. Boule N, Weisnagel SJ, Lakka T, Tremblay A, Bergman R, Rankinen T, et al. Effects of exercise training on glucose homeostasis. Diabetes Care. 2005;28:108–14.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Snowling NJ, Hopkins WG. Effects of different modes of exercise training on glucose control and risk factors for complications in type 2 diabetic patients: a meta-analysis. Diabetes Care. 2006;29(Pt. 11):2518–27.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Umpierre D, Ribeiro P, Kramer C, Leitao C, Zucatti A, Azevedo MJ, et al. Physical activity advice only or structured exercise training and association with HbA1c levels in type 2 diabetes. A systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA. 2011;35(Pt.17):1790–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. American College of Sports Medicine and American Diabetes Association. Exercise and type 2 diabetes: joint position statement. Diabetes Care. 2010;33:e147–67.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Nelson KM, Gaylle R, Edward BJ. Diet and exercise among adults with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2002;25:1722–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Okonta HI, Ikombele JB, Ogunbanjo GA. Knowledge, attitude and practice regarding lifestyle modification in type 2 diabetic patients. Afr J Prm Health Care Fam Med. 2014;6:655–60.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Dutton GR, Johnson J, Bodenlos J, Brantley PJ, Whitehead D. Barriers to physical activity among predominantly low-income African-American patients with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2005;28:1209–10.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Mier N, Medina A, Ory M. Mexican Americans with type 2 diabetes: perspectives on definitions, motivators, and programs of physical activity. Prev Chronic Dis 2007. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/20007/apr/06_0085.hm

  14. Egan AM, Mahmood W, Fenton R, Redziniak N, Kyaw Tun T, Sreenan S, et al. Barriers to exercise in obese patients with type 2 diabetes. Q J Med. 2013;106:635–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Hays LM, Clark DO. Correlates of physical activity in a sample of older adults with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care. 1999;22:706–12.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Thomas N, Alder E, Leese GP. Barriers to physical activity in patients with diabetes. Postgrad Medical J. 2004;80:287–91.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Plotnikoff RC, Taylor LM, Wilson PM, Courneya KS, SIgal RJ, Birkett N, et al. Factors associated with physical activity in Canadian adults with diabetes. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2006;38:1526–34.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Swift CS, Armstrong JE, Beerman K, Campbell RK, Rond-Smith D. Attitudes and beliefs about exercise among persons with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Diabetes Educ. 1995;21:533–40.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Tang T, Brown M, Funnell M, Anderson R. Social support, quality of life and self-care behaviours among African Americans with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Educ. 2008;34:266–76.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Deshpande AD, Baker EA. Environmental correlates of physical activity among individuals with diabetes in the rural midwest. Diabetes Care. 2005;28:1012–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Shah VN, Kamdar PK, Shah N. Assessing the knowledge, attitudes and practice of type 2 diabetes among patients of Saurashtra region, Gujarat. Int J Diabetes Dev Ctries. 2009;29:118–22.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  22. Cohen J. Statistical power analysis for the behavioural sciences. 2nd ed. New York: Psychology; 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Sechrist KR, Walker SN, Pender NJ. Development and psychometric evaluation of the exercise benefits/barriers scale. Res Nurs Health. 1987;10:357–65.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. International Physical Activity Questionnaire 2002. https://sites.google.com/site/theipaq/questionnaire_links. Accessed January 5 2014.

  25. Guidelines for data processing and analysis of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)–short form version 2.0 April 2004. http://www.institutferran.org/documentos/scoring_short_ipaq_april04.pdf [Accessed February 7 2014].

  26. Craig CL, Marshall AL, Sjöström M, Bauman AE, Booth ML, Ainsworth BE, et al. International Physical Activity Questionnaire: 12-country reliability and validity. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2003;35:1381–95.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Bodreau F, Godin G. Understanding physical activity intentions among French Canadians with type 2 diabetes:an extension of Ajzen’s theory of planned behaviour. Int J Behav Nutrit Phys Act. 2009;6:35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Krug LM, Haire-Joshu D, Heady SA. Exercise habits and exercise relapse in persons with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Diabetes Edu. 1991;17(Pt. 3):185–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Glasgow RE, Hampton SE, Stryker LA, Ruggiero L. Personal-model beliefs and social-environmental barriers related to diabetes self-management. Diabetes Care. 1997;20:556–61.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Heiss V, Petosa R. Correlates of physical activity among adults with type 2 daibetes. A systematic literature review. AJHE. 2014;45:278–87.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Knuth AG, Bielemann RM, da Silva SG, Borges TT, Del Duca GF, Kremer M, et al. Public knowledge on the role of physical activity in the prevention and treatment of diabetes and hypertension: a population-based study in southern Brazil. Cad Public Health. 2009;25:513–20. https://doi.org/10.1590/SO102-311X2009000300006.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Padma K, Bele SD, Bodhare TN, Valsangkar S. Evaluation of knowledge and self-care practices in diabetic patients and their role in disease management. Natl J Community Med. 2012;3:3–6.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Kwak L, Berrigan D, Van Domelen D, Sjostrom M, Hagstromer M. Examining differences in physical activity levels by employment status and/ or job activity level: gender-specific comparisons between the United States and Sweden. J Sci Med Sport. 2016;19:482–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Van Domelen D, Koster A, Caserotti P, Brychta R, Chen K, McClain J, et al. Employment and physical activity in the U.S. Am J Prev Med. 2011;41:136–45.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  35. Murano I, Asakawa Y, Misukami M, Takihara J, Shimizu K, Imai T. Factors increasing physical activity levels in diabetes mellitus: a survey of patients after an in-patient diabetes education program. J Phys Ther Sci. 2014;26:695–9.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  36. Wang S, Oslon-Kellog B, Shamliyan TA, Choi J, Ramakrishnan R, Kane R. Physical therapy interventions for knee pain secondary to osteoarthritis. A systematic review. Ann Intern Med. 2012;157:632–44.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Halali F, Mahdavi R, Jafarabdi MA, Mobasseri M, Namazi N. A cross-sectional study of barriers to physical activity among overweight and obese patients with type 2 diabetes in Iran. Health Soc Care Comm. 2016;24:e92–e100.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors thank A. Davis, M. Hall, A. Duncan and M. Brown for their assistance with the data collection.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medical Sciences Complex, University of the West Indies, Level 3, 2 West Road, Mona, Kingston, 7, Jamaica

    Carron D. Gordon & Gail A. Nelson

Authors
  1. Carron D. Gordon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Gail A. Nelson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

C.G.—conception and design, literature search, data analysis and interpretation, manuscript preparation, manuscript editing and review, and final approval

G.N.—acquisition of the data, interpretation of the data, manuscript preparation, manuscript editing and review, and final approval

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Carron D. Gordon.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in the study were in accordance with the ethical standards of the University of the West Indies Ethics Committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Gordon, C.D., Nelson, G.A. Physical activity correlates among persons with type 2 diabetes in Jamaica. Int J Diabetes Dev Ctries 39, 108–114 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13410-018-0640-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13410-018-0640-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation