Fitness coordinators' and fitness instructors' perspectives on implementing a task-oriented community exercise program within a healthcare-recreation partnership for people with balance and mobility limitations: a qualitative study.

Background:Healthcare organizations are partnering with recreation organizations to support the delivery of community-based exercise programs for people with balance and mobility limitations. The value and impact of support strategies provided by healthcare organizations, however, have not been examined. Objective:Study objectives were to explore fitness coordinators' and fitness instructors' experiences with implementing a task-oriented community-based exercise program for people with balance and mobility limitations within the context of a healthcare-recreation partnership. Methods:A qualitative descriptive study was conducted. Fitness coordinators and instructors involved with delivering a licensed, group, task-oriented community-based exercise program for people with balance and mobility limitations supported by a healthcare-recreation partnership were interviewed by telephone. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. A thematic analysis was performed. Results:Eight fitness coordinators and 8 fitness instructors from 14 recreation centres were interviewed. Findings showed that healthcare-recreation partnerships help to optimize exercise program quality and safety through multiple strategies. Fitness coordinators and instructors still face challenges with program implementation at start-up and over time. Recommendations to address these challenges included increased training content related to adjusting exercises to accommodate participant abilities, 1-2 visits from a healthcare professional each program after initial program implementation, suggestions to increase exercise variety, and ongoing education. Conclusions:Findings clarify the role of healthcare organizations, ongoing challenges, and directions for improvement in this program delivery model.