Objectives The benefits of physical activity in people living with HIV (PLHIV) are numerous and are largely reported in the literature. Understanding why PLHIV engage or not in physical activity is key to better accompanying health behaviors. Through a qualitative approach, our study sought to identify barriers to and facilitators of physical activity participation in PLHIV. Methods PLHIV were recruited by purposive sampling. Semi-structured interviews were carried-out in Center and Southern France. The data were analyzed following the principals of thematic analysis. Physical activity level was assessed through questions related to physical activity recommendations and a physical activity questionnaire. Results Fifteen semi-structured interviews (seven men and eight women; Mage = 46.6; SD = 10.3) were analyzed. Only a third of our sample was considered physically active with almost half being considered inactive according to recommendations. A multidimensional perspective of physical activity barriers and facilitators emerged. Barriers to and facilitators of physical activity were related to the physical, psychological and socio-environmental domains. Discussion Our research sought to better understand the beliefs and attitudes of PLHIV towards physical activity. Physical activity was overall viewed as beneficial by both active and less active PLHIV; however, PLHIV remain insufficiently active. This is discussed through our multidimensional approach of the barriers to and facilitators of physical activity.

This study was designed to identify beliefs about physical activity in cancer patients. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 patients under treatment, who were invited to identify perceived barriers for not adopting a physically active lifestyle and to express their beliefs about physical activity. Content analyses revealed five main categories of beliefs including four types of barriers: (a) barriers related to the side effects of treatment; (b) barriers related to a lack of perceived physical abilities; (c) barriers related to a lack of interest for physical activity; (d) beliefs about the negative effects of physical activity, and (e) beliefs about the positive effects of physical activity. These findings extend the existing literature by indicating how stereotypes may play a role in explaining sedentary lifestyles in cancer patients.

Aims and objectivesTo get a deeper understanding of correlates of perceived HIV‐related fatigue by exploring its associations with sociodemographic characteristics and physical activity level of HIV‐infected people.BackgroundPrevious studies on HIV‐related fatigue have mainly focused on physiological and psychological characteristics, but few have considered its associations with sociodemographic variables. In addition, while physical activity has been found to reduce acute fatigue among HIV‐infected people, its links with chronic HIV‐related fatigue remain to be explored.DesignThe study employed an observational and cross‐sectional survey design. The manuscript was organised according to STROBE guidelines.MethodA total of 560 people living with HIV in France completed a measure of perceived physical fatigue using the Fatigue Intensity Scale. The predictors targeted sociodemographic characteristics and two measures of individuals' reported level of physical activity. Data were analysed by a stepwise multiple regression model.ResultsThe results showed that lower age, higher physical activity level and socio‐economic status were significantly associated with reduced perceived physical fatigue, explaining 25% of the variance.ConclusionsThe results highlighted the importance of considering sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics to better characterise HIV‐related fatigue, in particular in an era where HIV as a chronic illness challenges questions of quality of life throughout increasingly longer lifespans.Relevance to clinical practiceThe results of this study have implications for HIV care professionals in terms of improving strategies for managing chronic fatigue or promoting physical activity according to more specific profiles of HIV‐infected people.

This article takes a new direction in exploring HIV-related fatigue by adopting a qualitative interactionist approach. We analyse the social meanings attributed to fatigue among people living with HIV in France, the social gains and losses of its visibility and the social frames that condition its discursive and physical expression. The two-part methodology combines grounded theory analysis of 50 transcribed unstructured interviews conducted across France and participant observations within four HIV-related associations. Results reveal that the visibility of fatigue is in part dependent on the visibility of this stigmatized illness. The expression of fatigue is therefore closely linked with disclosure and concerns about HIV stigma. The degree to which HIV and HIV-related fatigue are rendered (in)visible also depends on structural factors including gender prescriptions, as well as context effects such as the type of social or 'care' relations involved in the social frame of interaction.