TY - JOUR
T1 - UK Doctors Delivering Physical Activity Advice
T2 - What Are the Challenges and Possible Solutions? A Qualitative Study
AU - Vishnubala, Dane
AU - Iqbal, Adil
AU - Marino, Katherine
AU - Whatmough, Steven
AU - Barker, Ruth
AU - Salman, David
AU - Bazira, Peter
AU - Finn, Gabrielle
AU - Pringle, Andy
AU - Nykjaer, Camilla
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 by the authors.
PY - 2022/9/23
Y1 - 2022/9/23
N2 - Despite strategies to enable Health Care Professionals (HCPs) to give physical activity (PA) advice to patients, this appears to be rarely done in consultations. The aims of the present study were to gain an understanding of doctors’ awareness of current PA guidelines and to explore their opinions on barriers and solutions. A qualitative approach using semi-structured interviews was adopted. This study included 15 doctors currently working in the UK’s National Health Service (NHS). A thematic analysis approach was used to analyse the transcripts. Four themes and twelve sub-themes were deciphered. Intrinsic factors limiting the delivery of PA advice included a lack of knowledge of PA guidelines and PA being an afterthought. Barriers to delivering PA guidance included a lack of PA education, time pressures, and patient engagement. Solutions included staff training, incorporating PA into undergraduate training, and encouraging staff to be physically active. Methods to optimise PA guidance included individualised PA advice, local exercise services and schemes, utilising online and visual resources, and motivational interviewing. This study provides an updated insight into doctors’ opinions on barriers and solutions to discussing PA with patients. It is clear that further work is needed to ensure greater awareness of PA guidelines amongst clinicians.
AB - Despite strategies to enable Health Care Professionals (HCPs) to give physical activity (PA) advice to patients, this appears to be rarely done in consultations. The aims of the present study were to gain an understanding of doctors’ awareness of current PA guidelines and to explore their opinions on barriers and solutions. A qualitative approach using semi-structured interviews was adopted. This study included 15 doctors currently working in the UK’s National Health Service (NHS). A thematic analysis approach was used to analyse the transcripts. Four themes and twelve sub-themes were deciphered. Intrinsic factors limiting the delivery of PA advice included a lack of knowledge of PA guidelines and PA being an afterthought. Barriers to delivering PA guidance included a lack of PA education, time pressures, and patient engagement. Solutions included staff training, incorporating PA into undergraduate training, and encouraging staff to be physically active. Methods to optimise PA guidance included individualised PA advice, local exercise services and schemes, utilising online and visual resources, and motivational interviewing. This study provides an updated insight into doctors’ opinions on barriers and solutions to discussing PA with patients. It is clear that further work is needed to ensure greater awareness of PA guidelines amongst clinicians.
KW - adults
KW - medical education
KW - physical activity
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85139988659&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/ijerph191912030
DO - 10.3390/ijerph191912030
M3 - Article
C2 - 36231332
AN - SCOPUS:85139988659
SN - 1661-7827
VL - 19
JO - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
JF - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
IS - 19
M1 - 12030
ER -