Personal exercise habits and counseling practices of primary care physicians: a national survey.
Clin J Sport Med
; 10(1): 40-8, 2000 Jan.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-10695849
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
Regular physical activity can reduce the incidence and prevalence of many chronic diseases. A vast majority of Americans cite their physician as their primary source of information regarding healthy lifestyle decisions. This study was designed to obtain information about the personal exercise behavior and counseling practices of primary care physicians, to evaluate the relationship between their personal and professional exercise practices, and to determine whether physician specialty is associated with these practices.DESIGN:
A cross-sectional survey was mailed to a randomly selected sample of primary care physicians in the United States. A questionnaire was used to obtain detailed information on the personal exercise habits, counseling practices, and barriers to counseling of these physicians, regarding both aerobic exercise and strength training.PARTICIPANTS:
298 primary care physicians, comprising 84 family practitioners, 79 pediatricians, 58 geriatricians, and 77 internists. MAIN OUTCOMEMEASURES:
Frequency of physician exercise, exercise counseling, and relationship between these practices.RESULTS:
Physicians who perform aerobic exercise regularly are more likely to counsel their patients on the benefits of these exercises, as are physicians who perform strength training. Pediatricians and geriatricians counsel fewer patients about aerobic exercise than family practitioners and internists. Counseling regarding strength training is less common in all physician groups surveyed, and lowest among pediatricians, of whom 50% did not advise these exercises for any of their patients. Inadequate time was noted by 61% and inadequate knowledge and/or experience by 16% of respondents as the major barriers to counseling regarding aerobic exercise.CONCLUSION:
Physicians who exercise are more likely to counsel their patients to exercise. Inadequate time and knowledge/experience regarding exercise are the most common barriers to counseling identified. These findings suggest strategies that might increase physician exercise counseling behavior.
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Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Relaciones Médico-Paciente
/
Médicos de Familia
/
Ejercicio Físico
/
Actitud Frente a la Salud
/
Consejo
Tipo de estudio:
Etiology_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Prevalence_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Qualitative_research
/
Risk_factors_studies
Aspecto:
Determinantes_sociais_saude
/
Equity_inequality
Límite:
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
País/Región como asunto:
America do norte
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Clin J Sport Med
Asunto de la revista:
MEDICINA ESPORTIVA
Año:
2000
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Estados Unidos