 |
Barriers and Health Behaviors of Rural and Urban Persons with MS
Objective: To examine the barriers and health behaviors of persons with the chronic neurological condition of multiple sclerosis (MS) living in rural and urban environments. Methods: Eight hundred seven persons with MS completed a mailed survey that included measures of illness-related impairment, barriers, and health behaviors. Results: Rural residents (n=204) reported greater barriers and significantly fewer physical activity behaviors than did urban residents (n=603). Barriers explained greater variance in health behaviors for the urban sample than for the rural sample. Conclusion: Environmental context is an important factor to consider in planning to promote the health of persons with chronic disabling conditions. Am J Health Behav 1999;23(6):415-425 |