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The following is a summary of “Engagement in a virtual group-based walking intervention for persons with schizophrenia: a qualitative study,” published in the November 2024 issue of Psychiatry by Browne et al.
Researchers conducted a retrospective study to analyze the impact of virtual exercise programs on engagement in individuals with schizophrenia, where high dropout rates limit the effectiveness of traditional interventions.
They conducted interviews with 15 adults with schizophrenia who participated in a pilot randomized controlled trial of Virtual PACE-Life, a live, video-delivered group walking intervention based on self-determination theory. They used rapid qualitative analysis to compare feedback from completers (i.e., those that attended ≥ 50% of virtual walking sessions; n = 9) and non-completers (i.e., those that participated in < 50% of virtual walking sessions; n = 6), focusing on engagement barriers, facilitators, and preferences for exercise programming.
The results showed both groups viewed Virtual PACE-Life positively but found virtual sessions challenging and lacking in social interaction. Work obligations affected completers’ attendance, while technological issues and forgetting impacted non-completers. Completers preferred virtual exercise programs, whereas non-completers favored in-person exercise programs.
The study concluded that future virtual walking programs should focus on improving social interaction, providing scheduling flexibility, and regularly assessing session difficulty to enhance engagement and participant autonomy. These changes align with key components of self-determination theory.
Source: bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12888-024-06250-9
