A survey on the enablers and nurturers of physical activity in women with prediabetes

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Metabolic syndrome, especially prediabetes, is one of the most common health problems due to incomplete glucose metabolism that has a direct relationship with lifestyle. This study was conducted to determine the factors that enable and nurture physical activity in women with prediabetes based on the PEN-3 model. MATERIAL AND METHOD: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 41 prediabetic women aged 30–65 years and 9 service providers in health centers. Data were collected from a semi-structured individual interview based on the PEN-3 model. The Graneheim and Lundman method was used to analyze the data. RESULTS: During data analysis, two main themes that include enabling factors and nurturing factors in the domain of physical activity and 6 classes including enablers (positive, negative, and existential) and nurturers (positive, negative, and existential) were extracted from the data content. CONCLUSION: By determining enablers and nurturers, the providers of services can facilitate the participation of prediabetic women in physical activity by applying positive social and structural effects and also to eliminate negative environmental conditions.