Family caregivers' preparedness to support the physical activity of patients at risk for hospital readmission in rural communities: an interpretive descriptive study.

Despite assertions that family caregivers are a potential source of support for patient physical activity, our findings indicate that family caregivers are largely unprepared to assume that role and that more work needs to be done to ensure they can do so effectively. We suggest that healthcare providers be conscious of the potential for family caregiver-patient conflict surrounding physical activity, assess family caregivers' ability and willingness to support physical activity, educate them on the hazards of inactivity, and provide physical activity instructions to family caregivers and patients conjointly. Preparing family caregivers to support their relative's physical activity is particularly important given the current emphasis on early discharge in many jurisdictions, and the limited formal healthcare services available in rural communities.