Parental attitudes about exercise regarding their children with cystic fibrosis

Despite the well-recognized benefits of exercise on general health and pulmonary function, lack of participation in regular exercise remains a concern with respect to children with cystic fibrosis (CF). Data are lacking regarding parental perceptions about exercise in children and adolescents with CF. Sixty-nine parents of children with CF and 70 parents of healthy children completed the "Exercise Benefits/Barrier Scale" self administered inventory. Fifteen additional items addressing exercise issues for people with CF were also included. Data were reported as total score, and subdivided into barriers and benefits scales for analysis. Data on the CF specific questions were also reported. Parents of children with CF scored lower on both the total score and benefits portion of the inventory and scored slightly greater on the barriers portion (p < .05) representing less favorable perception of the benefits of exercise along with increased barriers. The presence of a healthy child in addition to a child with CF appeared to increase both the total score and benefits score as well as resulting in a more positive outlook on exercise related uses in CF. It appears that significant differences in parental perceptions regarding exercise indeed exist not only when compared to healthy children but within varying intra-structures of families with a child who has CF.