Better together: Service user and delivery staff experiences of the SPACES physical activity intervention for people with severe mental illness - a qualitative study of a feasibility trial

IF 2.6 3区医学 Q2 PSYCHIATRY

Mental Health and Physical Activity Pub Date : 2025-09-03 DOI:10.1016/j.mhpa.2025.100717

Eleanor Bowes , Trys Burke , Matthew Faires , Gareth Jones , Kasia Machaczek , Helen Quirk , Gemma Traviss-Turner , Rebecca Beeken , Emily Peckham

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Life expectancy is reduced by around 15–20 years for people with severe mental illness (SMI) compared to those without SMI, and this gap is widening. Increased physical activity is one way to reduce this mortality gap. The SPACES programme was designed to develop and test an intervention that supports people with SMI in increasing their physical activity. This paper presents the findings of a qualitative study conducted within the SPACES feasibility trial, which explores the experiences of both participants who received the SPACES intervention and those who delivered it.

Methods

Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with thirteen people with SMI who participated in the intervention, as well as six Physical Activity Coordinators (PACs) who delivered the intervention within the NHS. The interviews explored the participants’ perceptions of the intervention, including its feasibility, acceptability, potential benefits and insights into its implementation. The transcripts were analysed, and themes were generated using Framework analysis.

Results

The SPACES physical activity intervention was perceived positively. Both PACs and people with SMI identified key enablers and barriers to implementation and continued engagement in physical activity. Key enablers were primarily social and included aspects such as social connectedness, personalised one-on-one support from professionals, and the welcoming and accepting atmosphere of community venues. Barriers included small group sizes, which did not lead to social connections, logistical challenges, inconvenient venue locations and travel issues. The PACs who delivered the intervention felt well-equipped to anticipate and address potential challenges in future intervention implementations.

Conclusion

The co-designed SPACES physical activity intervention was acceptable to people with SMI and was considered feasible by PACS delivering the intervention. The results have wider implications for understanding how to achieve and maintain engagement in physical activity for this population. They further highlight the need for more holistic approaches to physical activity programmes tailored for people with SMI. Such approaches should emphasise social connectedness, foster welcoming community-based centres, and provide ongoing personalised support and guidance to help individuals with SMI integrate into community-based physical activity opportunities.

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更好地在一起：服务用户和交付人员对严重精神疾病患者的空间身体活动干预的经验-可行性试验的定性研究

与没有严重精神疾病的人相比，患有严重精神疾病（SMI）的人的预期寿命减少了大约15-20年，而且这一差距正在扩大。增加身体活动是缩小这种死亡率差距的一种方法。空间项目旨在开发和测试一种干预措施，支持重度精神障碍患者增加身体活动。本文介绍了在空间可行性试验中进行的一项定性研究的结果，该研究探讨了接受空间干预的参与者和提供干预的参与者的经验。方法对13名参与干预的重度精神障碍患者以及6名在NHS内提供干预的身体活动协调员（pac）进行定性半结构化访谈。访谈探讨了参与者对干预措施的看法，包括其可行性、可接受性、潜在利益和对其实施的见解。对转录本进行分析，并使用框架分析生成主题。结果对空间体育活动干预有积极的认知。pac和重度精神障碍患者都确定了实施和持续参与体育活动的关键促成因素和障碍。关键的促成因素主要是社会因素，包括社会联系、专业人士的个性化一对一支持以及社区场所的欢迎和接受氛围等方面。障碍包括小组规模小，这不会导致社会联系，后勤挑战，不方便的场地位置和旅行问题。提供干预措施的pac认为自己有能力预测和应对未来实施干预措施时可能面临的挑战。结论共同设计的空间体育活动干预对重度精神障碍患者是可接受的，PACS认为该干预是可行的。研究结果对了解如何实现和保持这一人群的体育活动具有更广泛的意义。他们进一步强调，需要针对重度精神障碍患者制定更全面的体育活动方案。这些方法应强调社会联系，建立社区欢迎中心，并提供持续的个性化支持和指导，帮助重度精神障碍患者融入社区体育活动机会。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Mental Health and Physical Activity PSYCHIATRY-

CiteScore

6.70

自引率

6.40%

发文量

审稿时长

32 days

期刊介绍： The aims of Mental Health and Physical Activity will be: (1) to foster the inter-disciplinary development and understanding of the mental health and physical activity field; (2) to develop research designs and methods to advance our understanding; (3) to promote the publication of high quality research on the effects of physical activity (interventions and a single session) on a wide range of dimensions of mental health and psychological well-being (eg, depression, anxiety and stress responses, mood, cognitive functioning and neurological disorders, such as dementia, self-esteem and related constructs, psychological aspects of quality of life among people with physical and mental illness, sleep, addictive disorders, eating disorders), from both efficacy and effectiveness trials;