Barriers and facilitators to physical activity: a comparative analysis of transplant athletes competing in high intensity sporting events with other transplant recipients

This dataset is the source for the following article

Rienties, B., Duncan, E., Judd, P., Oakley, B., Pengel, L., Roelen, K., Topley, N. (Accepted with minor revisions: 15-05-2024). Barriers and facilitators to physical activity: a comparative analysis of transplant athletes competing in high intensity sporting events with other transplant recipients. PLoS ONE. Impact factor: 4.069.

It contains two separate submissions:

-Submission 1: Coded dataset of barriers and facilitators of 27 transplant recipients

-Submission 2: Three anonymised transcripts of participants.

Background

There is widespread recognition that many transplant recipients struggle to become and remain physically active. However, some transplant recipients do undertake strenuous training and significant physical activity (PA) and participate in intensive sports.

Aim

This study and its related dataset seeks to understand facilitators and barriers to physically active transplant recipients compared to transplantees with average activity levels. This explorative mixed methods study analyses race performance and interview data from Transplant Athletes (TxA) who participated in cycling and/or the sprint triathlon at the World Transplant Games 2023, and compared their lived experiences in terms of barriers and facilitators of PA with those of 16 transplantees in a study from the Netherlands previously published in this journal.

Methods

Using Patient and Public Involvement and engagement (PPI), race data from World Transplant Games 2023 and subsequent in-depth interviews were used from 27 TxA. A visual artefact of barriers and facilitators from the previous Dutch study was used to prompt identification and discussion of barriers and facilitators of PA. Interview data were coded by three coders.

Results

Many of the barriers to PA previously reported by transplant recipients with average exercise levels were not shared by the majority of TxA in this study. The TxA in this study reported significantly lower physical limitations, lower fear to undertake exercise, and no comorbidity issues for TxA. Furthermore, TxA perceived they received substantial social support, had the strength to do PA, and were in control of their weight.

Conclusion

Nonetheless, several TxA reported a lack of understanding from medical and other professionals about the appropriate intensity of PA.