Exploring physical activity experiences of community‐dwelling oldest‐old adults with chronic multimorbidity: A qualitative study

AIM: To explore the physical activity experiences of community-dwelling oldest-old adults with chronic multimorbidity. DESIGN: Descriptive qualitative study. METHOD: Data collection was conducted through semi-structured interviews with 19 community-dwelling oldest-old adults with chronic multimorbidity. The study was conducted between December 2022 and May 2023. ATLAS.ti software was used for data analysis. RESULTS: Three main themes with their respective sub-themes and units of meaning were developed from the data analysis: (1) motivational factors for engaging in physical activity; (2) fear of getting hurt during physical activity and (3) confidence in being physically active. CONCLUSION: Motivation, kinesiophobia and confidence are three core elements that influence the experience of physical activity in oldest-old adults with chronic multimorbidity. Interventions tailored to meet the needs of the oldest-old adults are important for promotion and development of active ageing. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION AND/OR PATIENT CARE: Nurses and other healthcare professionals should design, implement and evaluate interventions that aim to increase oldest-old adults' motivation and confidence, while decreasing their fear to engage in physical activity. IMPACT: This study provides insights into the way community-dwelling oldest-old adults with chronic multimorbidity experience physical activity in their daily lives. Our findings suggest that motivation, kinesiophobia and confidence are key factors for oldest-old adults to engage in physical activity. These findings could contribute to the design and implementation of interventions that specifically aim at raising the physical activity levels of community-dwelling oldest-old adults with chronic multimorbidity. REPORTING METHOD: The study findings are reported according to the COREQ guidelines. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No patient or public contribution.