Characteristics of the included studies
| Authors, year, Country | Research aim | Sampling methods | Participant characteristics | Data collection | Method of analysis |
| Baxter et al,28 2016, New Zealand | Explore the perceived barriers, facilitators and attitudes to exercise in people with RA | Unclear sampling strategy Rheumatology outpatient clinic at a public hospital | n=8, (F=8, M=0) Age: m=62 years (56–82) Disease duration: m=6 years (5-29) | Semistructured individual telephone interviews | Thematic analysis |
| Bearne et al,27 2017, United Kingdom | Explore participants’ experiences of EXTRA and consider refinements to EXTRA | Purposive sampling Attendance at the EXTRA sessions | n=12, (F=10, M=2) Age: m=57.8 years (32–87) Disease duration: m=33 months (12–65 months) | Semistructured individual interviews | Thematic analysis |
| Brodin et al,14 2009, Sweden | Describe variation in the ways that individuals with RA understand how to determine the intensity of PA | Purposive sampling Physiotherapy clinics at hospitals | n=19, (F=12, M=7) Age: m=58.5 years (21–82) Disease duration: m=15 years (2–55) | Semistructured individual interviews | Phenomenographic analysis |
| Crowley and Kennedy,29 2009, Ireland | Identify barriers and facilitators to exercise in RA and methods to increase compliance | Snowball sampling Arthritis Ireland Limerick branch meeting | n=12, (F=12, M=0) Age: 62.5 years (43–80) Disease duration: 15.6 years (1-33) | Focus group interviews | Thematic content analysis |
| Eurenius et al,37 2003, Sweden | Describe variations in attitudes to PA in a group of people with RA | Purposive sampling Outpatient rheumatology unit at a hospital | n=16, (F=12, M=4) Age: Md=61.5 years (32–78) Disease duration: Md=16.5 years (1–45) | Semistructured individual interviews | Phenomenographic analysis |
| Kamwendo et al,15 1999, Sweden | Achieve a better understanding of how patients with RA perceive and relate to PA in their everyday life | Consecutive sampling Outpatient RA clinic | n=10, (F=6, M=4) Age: m=56.5 years (42–68) Disease duration: m=10.9 years (1-28) | Individual interviews | Phenomenographic analysis |
| Lange et al,30 2019, Sweden | Explore aspects of participation in moderate-intensity to- high-intensity exercise with person-centred guidance influencing the transition to independent exercise for older adults with RA. | Consecutive sampling The intervention arm of a randomised controlled trial evaluating moderate- to- high-intensity exercise intervention with person-centred guidance | n=16, (F=11, M=5) Age: M=70.6 years (67-76) Disease duration: m=14 years (3-45) | Semi-structured, individual, in-depth interviews | Qualitative content analysis |
| Larkin et al,16 2017, Ireland | Explore the views of people who have RA on the design of a future PA intervention | Unclear sampling strategy Outpatient rheumatology clinic in an urban hospital | n=17, (F=12, M=5) Age: m=59.8 years (35–83) Disease duration: m=13.7 years (1-47) | Semi-structured individual telephone interviews | Inductive thematic analysis |
| Law et al,31 2010, United Kingdom | Describe the perceptions of the effects of exercise on joint health among RA patients | Purposive sampling Department of Rheumatology, University health board | n=18, (F=12, M=6) Age: 59.1 years (23–76) Disease duration: (2.5 months–33 years) | Focus group interviews | Systematic content analysis |
| Loeppenthin et al,34 2014, Denmark | Describe the meaning of PA maintenance | Purposive sampling The Danish Rheumatism Association and outpatient clinic of rheumatology | n=16, (F=12, M=4) Age: m=50 years (37–67) Disease duration: m=21 years (4–46) | Semi-structured individual interviews | Systematic text condensation |
| Nichols et al,32 2017, United Kingdom | Explore participants’ experiences of the SARAH exercise trial and how successfully they adhered to the programme over time | Purposive sampling Four National health service trusts | n=14, (F=9, M=5) Age: M=61.4 years (44–82) Disease duration: 13.2 years (1-36) | Semistructured individual interviews | Interpretive phenomenological analysis |
| Swärdh et al,17 2008, Sweden | Explore and describe ways of understanding exercise maintenance | Purposive sampling Four hospitals or primary healthcare physical therapy clinics | n=18, (F=14, M=4) Age: m=60 years (34–83) Disease duration: (3–53 years) | Semi-structured individual interviews | Phenomenographic analysis |
| Swärdh et al,33 2020, Sweden | Explore perceptions of maintaining PA according to public health recommendations during the second year of an outsourced support programme. | Purposive sampling The outsourced 2 year PA support programme, and previously participation in semi-structured interviews after the first year of the programme. | n=18, (F=15, M=3) Age: m=66.5 years (48–72) Disease duration: Md=5 (1–25 years) | Semi-structured individual interviews | Conventional content analysis |
| Thomas et al,35 2019, United Kingdom | Explore the experiences, perspectives and strategies employed by people with RA who are successfully engaging with regular PA | Purposive sampling Outpatient rheumatology clinic | n=15 (F12, M=3) Age: m=56 years (29–80) Disease duration: m=13 years (10 months–46 years) | Semi-structured individual interviews | Inductive thematic analysis |
| Withall et al,36 2016, United Kingdom | Explore the views of people with RA regarding the feasibility and acceptability of potential PA programmes | Purposive sampling Rheumatology clinics at university and national hospitals | n=19, (F=15, M=4) Age: m=59.9 years (31–73) Disease duration: m=44.3 months (1–120) | Focus groups | Inductive thematic analysis |
PA, physical activity; RA, rheumatoid arthritis; SARAH, The Strengthening And stretching for Rheumatoid Arthritis of the Hand.