FACTORS INFLUENCING ADHERENCE TO HOME-BASED EXERCISE BY STROKE SURVIVORS IN NORTH WESTERN NIGERIA

This study investigated factors influencing adherence of stroke survivors to home based exercise in North Western Nigeria. It is a cross-sectional survey in which consenting participants were recruited using purposive sampling technique. The influence of certain socio-demographic and personal factors on home based exercise in stroke survivors were assessed through self-reports and clinician based questionnaires. Data obtained were analyzed with descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation and Chisquare at a significance level of 0.05. Fifty two stroke survivors 27 (51.9%) males and 25(48.1%) females with mean age of 55.3±10.0 years and age range 33 to 75 years participated in the study. The adherent stroke survivors were 29 (55.8%) while 23 (44.2%) were non- adherent to home-based exercise. Neither of the participants’ gender or level of education was significantly associated with home based exercise adherence (P>0.05). Significant negative correlations (r = -0.72 to -0.88; p<0.05) were observed when scores of adherence and discomfort, ‘dependency on physiotherapist’ and personal barriers were considered. The higher the magnitude of these factors, the lower the scores of home based exercise adherence. In this study, discomfort, dependency and participants’ personal barriers were factors associated with low levels of home based exercise adherence. These factors should be considered by clinicians during prescription of home based exercise in stroke survivors.