Examination of exercise benefit/barrier perceptions of individuals with diabetes and affecting factors

BACKGROUND: Exercise, which is one of the health promotion behaviors, is extremely important in healthy life. This study was conducted to examine exercise benefit/barrier perceptions of individuals with diabetes and influencing factors. METHOD: This descriptive study was conducted in the Endocrine Polyclinics of a University Hospital with 285 individuals with Type 2 Diabetes between January and June 2020. RESULTS: In this study, the average score of the exercise benefits subscale was 61.69 +14.79, the barriers subscale was 35.83 + 5.99, and the total score of the exercise benefits/barriers scale was 99.79 + 12.58. The total self-efficacy scale score was reported to be 59.74 + 9.46. A significant relationship was reported between the total mean score of the exercise benefits/barriers scale and having the opportunity to exercise, exercising regularly, and having a disease that prevents exercising. A significant difference was reported between the total mean score of the self-efficacy scale and the regular exercise status. CONCLUSION: Because of this study, the number of individuals who regularly exercised is insufficient, the mean exercise benefits/barriers scale score is not at the desired level, and exercise benefit/barrier perceptions are positively affected by the self-efficacy level.