RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 How should family physicians provide physical activity advice?
JF Canadian Family Physician
JO Can Fam Physician
FD The College of Family Physicians of Canada
SP e411
OP e419
VO 65
IS 9
A1 Reddeman, Lindsay
A1 Bourgeois, Nicole
A1 Angl, Emily Nicholas
A1 Heinrich, Mike
A1 Hillier, Leah
A1 Finn, Holly
A1 Bosiak, Beth
A1 Agarwal, Payal
A1 Mawson, Robin
A1 Propp, Roni
A1 Ivers, Noah M.
YR 2019
UL http://www.cfp.ca/content/65/9/e411.abstract
AB Objective To explore patient attitudes toward interacting with family physicians regarding physical activity in order to inform the development of an e-health intervention aimed at helping family physicians support patients in becoming more physically active.Design Qualitative study.Setting Women’s College Hospital in Toronto, Ont.Participants Ten patients recruited from the academic family practice health centre.Methods Semistructured interviews were conducted with patients using maximum variation sampling until thematic saturation was reached. Interviews explored past experiences and preferences for receiving physical activity advice from family physicians, and tools or techniques that might support increasing physical activity. Interviews were audiorecorded, transcribed, and coded independently by members of the research team before undergoing thematic analysis.Main findings Patient interviews revealed 4 overarching themes that offered insight to physical activity discussions. Family physicians might provide more meaningful and useful physical activity advice to patients by providing individualized recommendations focused on proximal (ie, near-term) health and functional goals; recognizing and addressing unique environmental and social factors influencing physical activity levels; balancing candour and sensitivity in advice provision while incorporating a broad definition of physical activity; and recommending tools that incorporate planning, goal-setting, and goal-monitoring features.Conclusion Ultimately, physical activity recommendations from family physicians cannot make a difference if patients do not act on them. This study elicits input from patients to develop preliminary strategies that might help family physicians provide physical activity advice in a more patient-centred fashion. Further research is needed to test interventions that help implement these strategies and to assess their effect.