The Effects of Intradialytic Aerobic Exercise on Clinical Parameters, Coping With Illness, Perceived Benefits of Exercise and Barriers to Exercise in Haemodialysis Patients: A Randomised Controlled Trial

Primary outcomes

1. Dialysis Patient-Perceived Exercise Benefits and Barriers Scale (DPEBBS)

   Time frame: Two months

   This is a 4-point Likert scale (1- Strongly Disagree, 4- Strongly Agree). The scale consists of 24 items and two open-ended questions. It comprises five sub-dimensions: "Daily Life (7 items)", "Exercise-related Undesirable Outcomes (7 items)", "Quality of Life (4 items)", "Exercise Effects (3 items)", and "Exercise Benefits (3 items)". The daily life and exercise-related undesirable outcomes sub-dimensions represent the obstacles to exercise, while the quality of life, exercise effects, and exercise benefits sub-dimensions represent the benefits of exercise. Items 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 13, 16, 20, 22, and 23 comprise the benefits sub-dimension; items 1, 2, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17-19, 21, and 24 comprise the obstacles sub-dimension. The items in the DPEBBS scale that represent barrier factors are reverse-coded. The scale is evaluated based on a total score (min=24, max=96). Higher scores indicate a greater perception of exercise benefits and fewer exercise barriers.

2. The End-Stage Renal Disease Adherence Questionnaire (ESRD-AQ)

   Time frame: Two months

   The scale, designed to assess adherence to end-stage renal failure, consists of nine questions and four sub-dimensions encompassing adherence behaviors: "hemodialysis participation," "medication adherence," "fluid restriction adherence," and "diet adherence." The total score obtainable from the scale ranges from 0 to 1200. Higher scores indicate higher adherence to treatment.