Assessment of practitioner intervention in physical activity

<p>Lack of physical activity is a serious epidemic that affects one’s health. Primary care physicians can play a key role in influencing and changing people’s behaviors. The objective of this study was to assess primary care physicians’ role in physical activity counseling and what if any guidelines they use. One hundred and forty-seven primary care physicians completed and returned the 23-item Physical Activity Counseling Questionnaire. Most of the respondents were over the age of 50 (58.5%), group practitioners (60.5%), male (59.9%), and have been practicing more than 20 years (50.3%). The majority of physicians “almost always” (47.6%) counseled their patients on physical activity. Time, however (81.6%), was identified as the main barrier. A significant relationship was found between physicians who scheduled follow-ups and referrals (<em>χ</em>₂ (1) = 14.971, p<.001). The four components to physical activity were recommended when counseling. The rate of physician counseling is considerably low, however, when counseling physicians meet the ACSM guidelines.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Open Access Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Health Promotion and Human Performance

Year

2008

Author dc:creator

• Schley, Kristin Thea

Contributors dc:contributor

• Christine Karshin, PhD
• Shel Levine, M.S.
• Colleen Croxall, PhD

• Health promotion
• Physician and patient
• Communication in medicine
• Rehabilitation and Therapy

Repository record dc:identifier

https://commons.emich.edu/theses/180

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:commons.emich.edu:theses-1179