ArticleBMC geriatrics2026
Facilitators and barriers to physical activity among older adults in Karachi - a qualitative exploratory study.
Article in BMC geriatrics, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Arabic exercise assessment and screening for you tool: development, validation, and cultural adaptation among older adults in Saudi Arabia.Frontiers in medicine · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe global older adult population is expanding, projected to reach two billion by 2050. Pakistan, a low- and middle-income country (LMIC), is home to 7% of its older adult population (above 60). Physical inactivity is prevalent in this group, linked to chronic diseases and mental health disorders. However, little is known about its determinants. This study explores physical activity factors (facilitators and barriers) at individual, interpersonal, community, and policy levels among older adults in Karachi.
methodsA qualitative exploratory study was conducted in two Karachi districts using a purposive sampling. A total of 24 older adults aged 60 and above, with no physical limitations, were interviewed at their residences. Semi-structured interview guide informed by the socioecological model (SEM) was used. Data analysis followed Braun and Clark’s thematic analysis, using inductive deductive open coding.
resultsFour themes corresponding to each level of the socioecological model were identified. At individual level, health benefits and use of technology were identified as the facilitators, while physical (e.g., joint pain), and psychological factors (e.g., low motivation), and resource limitations (e.g., time) were identified as barriers. At interpersonal level, support from children and grandchildren was identified as the facilitators, while social media influences (e.g., smartphones) were identified as a major barrier. At community-level facilitators identified include presence of community-based centers and peer groups while barriers include norms and attitudes (e.g., societal views), more so for women, which hinder participation, compounded with poor infrastructure, safety and security issues. At policy level, participants emphasized the need for dedicated spaces and policies promoting PA for older adults.
conclusionThis is one of the first studies from Pakistan diving deeper into key facilitators and barriers related to physical activity among older adults in Pakistan. Context-specific interventions should be designed to overcome these barriers while considering the prevailing environmental and cultural dynamics of Karachi. Findings can help the decision makers at the municipal level and health departments in shaping targeted interventions for health promotion and active ageing.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.