Barriers to and solutions for improving physical activity in adults during hospital stay: a mixed-methods study among healthcare professionals.

Purpose: To identify healthcare professionals' perspectives on key barriers to improving physical activity in hospitalized adult patients, and to identify solutions to overcome these barriers.

Methods: We used an explanatory sequential mixed-methods study design in a Dutch university hospital. A survey exploring 39 potential barriers was completed by 15 physicians/physician assistants, 106 nurses, four nursing assistants, and four physical therapists working on surgery, internal medicine, and cardiology wards.

Factors related to caregiver strain in ALS: a longitudinal study.

Objective: To examine the longitudinal associations between caregiver strain and patients' clinical and psychosocial characteristics as well as caregivers' psychosocial characteristics.

Methods: At 4-month intervals during the 12 months study period, longitudinal data on caregiver strain and patient and caregiver factors potentially associated with caregiver strain were collected from 126 couples, who participated in a randomised controlled trial on the effectiveness of case management in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Caregiver strain was assessed with the Caregiver Strain Index (CSI).