University of Bradford, Bradford, UK.
University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
BMC Public Health. 2018 Jun 19;18(1):762. doi: 10.1186/s12889-018-5692-2.
Many asylum seekers have complex mental health needs which can be exacerbated by the challenging circumstances in which they live and difficulties accessing health services. Regular moderate physical activity can improve mental health and would be a useful strategy to achieve this. Evidence suggests there are barriers to engaging black and minority ethnic groups in physical activity, but there is little research around asylum seekers to address the key barriers and facilitators in this group.
A two stage qualitative study used semi-structured interviews underpinned by the Theoretical Domains Framework. The interviews were conducted in voluntary sector groups in four towns/ cities in Northern England. Purposive sampling recruited 36 asylum seekers from 18 different countries. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and subject to framework analysis. Stage two involved a nominal group technique with five key stakeholders including asylum seekers and those that work with them. They followed a four stage process to rank and reach consensus on the key barrier to undertaking physical activity/ exercise that could be addressed locally through a future intervention.
A number of barriers and facilitators were identified including a lack of understanding of the term physical activity and recommended levels but knowledge of the health benefits of physical activity/ exercise and the motivation to increase levels having engaged with activities back home. Living as an asylum seeker was considered a barrier due to the stress, poverty and temporary nature of living in an unfamiliar place. The outcome of the nominal group technique was that a lack of knowledge of facilities in the local area was the prevailing barrier that could be addressed.
Public health practitioners could develop interventions which capitalise on the motivation and knowledge of asylum seekers to encourage an increase in physical activity which may in turn reduce the breadth and depth of mental health needs of this group.
许多寻求庇护者有复杂的心理健康需求，这些需求可能因他们所处的充满挑战的环境和获得医疗服务的困难而加剧。定期适度的体育活动可以改善心理健康，这将是实现这一目标的有用策略。有证据表明，黑人和少数族裔群体参与体育活动存在障碍，但针对寻求庇护者的研究很少，无法解决该群体的主要障碍和促进因素。
采用基于理论领域框架的两阶段定性研究，使用半结构化访谈。访谈在英格兰北部四个城镇/城市的志愿部门团体中进行。采用目的性抽样，从 18 个不同国家招募了 36 名寻求庇护者。对访谈进行了录音、逐字转录，并进行了框架分析。第二阶段涉及五名主要利益相关者（包括寻求庇护者和与他们一起工作的人）的名义群体技术。他们遵循四个阶段的过程，对开展体育活动/锻炼的主要障碍进行排名，并就可以通过未来干预在当地解决的问题达成共识。
确定了一些障碍和促进因素，包括缺乏对体育活动术语和推荐水平的理解，但对体育活动/锻炼的健康益处有所了解，并且有动机在回到家乡后增加活动量。作为寻求庇护者的生活被认为是一个障碍，原因是在一个陌生的地方生活压力大、贫困和临时性。名义群体技术的结果是，对当地设施缺乏了解是一个普遍存在的障碍，可以通过干预来解决。
公共卫生从业者可以制定干预措施，利用寻求庇护者的动机和知识，鼓励他们增加体育活动，这反过来可能会减轻该群体心理健康需求的广度和深度。
