Physical inactivity and counseling practices among medical doctors: a review
Year: 2011
Type: article
Study design: Systematic Review
Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Literature indicates that physical activity is a health practice that can prevent chronic diseases of \nlifestyle. It is recommended that medical practitioners, among them physicians, should hold the responsibility of \ncounseling patients on physical activity. This review attempts to establish whether physical inactivity among \nphysicians is a risk factor to counseling practices on physical activity. \nMETHODS: Databases searched included Science direct, Pubmed, Eric, Health sources consumer edition, Health \nsources: nursing/academic edition, Sports discuss and Medline through January 2000 to February 2010. All studies \ntesting if physical inactivity is a risk factor to counseling practices among physicians were included in the review. \nThe critical thinking tool for quasi experimental studies and the Joanna Briggs Institute Meta Analysis of Statistics \nAssessment and Review Instruments were used to evaluate quasi experimental and cross sectional studies \nrespectively. \nRESULTS: Two quasi experimental studies and four cross-sectional studies met the inclusion criteria and were \nevaluated. There was strong evidence for an association between physical inactivity and counseling practices, \nindicating that physicians who exercised regularly were more likely to counsel patients on physical activity and vice \nversa. Levels of physical activity were seen to decrease as years of training progressed among resident physicians \nin one study while in another the levels were consistent. Lack of knowledge about details of physical activity \nprescriptions was also blamed for inadequate counseling. \nDiscussion/ conclusion: There is significant indication that inadequate counseling concerning physical activity by \nphysicians may be related to their personal physical activity patterns. Measures around enhancing this health \npractice should be enhanced by all stakeholders including physicians and patients. Further reasons for failure to \ncounsel and hindrances to participation on physical activity among medical doctors and other health professionals \nshould be explored.
Language: English
Topic: Physical Activity and Health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2141193897