Enhancing Physical Activity in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients: Insights from Healthcare Professionals

by Lauren Handler and Paula Jaloul

Solid organ transplantation is a life-saving procedure for individuals with end-stage organ failure. However, after transplantation, recipients often face challenges in maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including engaging in regular physical activity. Digital health interventions have emerged as a promising tool to support and enhance physical activity in this population.

As physiotherapy students at the University of Toronto, we had the privilege of interviewing healthcare professionals (e.g., registered nurses, physiotherapists, etc.), Canada-wide to explore features of a digital health intervention that would be most beneficial in supporting physical activity for solid organ transplant recipients. The interviews revealed several key themes regarding the perspectives of healthcare professionals on digital health interventions for this specific population:

Tailored and personalized interventions: Healthcare professionals emphasized the importance of tailoring digital interventions to the specific needs and capabilities of transplant recipients. Further customization to the individual, including tailored exercise programs, tracking capabilities for individual progress, and personalized feedback were seen as valuable features that could enhance engagement and motivation.
Credibility is key: It was really important that all the information people could find or share on the device was trustworthy. This means that it should come from credible sources and be based on the most recent and reliable evidence. It was also crucial that the digital tool made sure to protect the privacy and security of its users.
Educational resources and self-management support: Healthcare professionals emphasized the need for educational materials and self-management tools within digital interventions. Providing information on the benefits of physical activity, exercise guidelines, and tips for overcoming barriers to exercise was considered essential. Additionally, self-monitoring tools and goal-setting features were seen as effective strategies for empowering transplant recipients to take ownership of their physical activity habits.
A team approach to user-engagement: The ability to remotely monitor physical activity levels and provide real-time feedback was highlighted as a crucial aspect of digital health interventions. Healthcare professionals believed that this feature would enable more accurate tracking of patients' progress, enhance adherence, and allow timely intervention or adjustment of exercise routines when necessary.

Digital health interventions have the potential to play a crucial role in supporting physical activity in solid organ transplant recipients. The perspectives of healthcare professionals provide valuable insights into the features and benefits that would be most relevant and effective for this population. By incorporating these insights, researchers and developers can create innovative interventions that empower transplant recipients to engage in regular physical activity, leading to improved well-being and enhanced long-term outcomes after transplantation.

Our research was carried out by a team of five physiotherapy students and was one of two research projects led by Dr. Sunita Mathur, a physiotherapist and Associate Professor in the School of Rehabilitation Therapy, Queen's University. If you’re interested in learning more about solid organ transplant recipients’ perspectives on digital health features that best promote physical activity, please check out the following article:

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Article Details
A Qualitative Study of the Perspectives of Healthcare Professionals on Features of Digital Health Interventions to Support Physical Activity in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients
Lauren Handler, Paula Jaloul, Jessica Clancy, Brittany Cuypers, Jayme Muir, Julia Hemphill, Tania Janaudis-Ferreira, Chaya Gottesman, Lisa Wickerson, Mike Lovas, Joseph A. Cafazzo, Sunita Mathur
First Published December 20, 2022 Research Article
DOI: 10.1177/15269248221145039
Progress in Transplantation

About the Authors

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Lauren Handler, MSc. PT, received her Master of Science in Physical Therapy from the University of Toronto in 2019. After working clinically in both the private and public sectors, Lauren transitioned into a non-clinical role at Arthritis Society Canada, where she helps oversee childhood arthritis programming, including their six nation-wide camps.

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Paula Jaloul, MSc. PT, is a Physiotherapist at the Toronto Academic Pain Medicine Institute, located at Women's College Hospital. Since receiving her degree from the University of Toronto, she has immersed herself in a variety of inpatient and outpatient hospital programs. Paula is a best practice champion, and is currently collaborating on a quality improvement project to improve peri-operative outcomes for individuals living with persistent pain.