Marc Charles1, Lemlih Ouchchane2,3, David Thivel4, Lambert Celine5, Martine Duclos6,7. 1. Département de Santé Publique, CHU de Clermont-Ferrand, Clermont-Ferrand, France. 2. CHU Clermont-Ferrand, CNRS, SIGMA Clermont, Université Clermont Auvergne, Institut Pascal, Clermont-Ferrand, France. 3. Département de Santé Publique, Unité de Biostatistique et Informatique Médicale, CHU de Clermont-Ferrand, Clermont-Ferrand, France. 4. AME2P, Laboratoire Adaptations Métaboliques à l'Exercice en Conditions Physiologiques et Pathologiques, Université Clermont Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France. 5. Biostatistics unit of the Clermont-Ferrand University Hospital, 58 rue Montalembert 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France. 6. Département de Médecine du Sport et Explorations Fonctionnelles, CHU de Clermont-Ferrand, Clermont-Ferrand, France. 7. INRA, UMR, Université Clermont Auvergne; Clermont-Ferrand, France.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Regular physical activity (PA) is a key element in chronic disease management. We studied the effect of a recent legislative framework given to physical activity prescription (PAP) on practices, motivations, barriers, and needs for PAP in primary care among general practitioners (GP) of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, France. METHODS: Our cross-sectional survey used a self-administrated questionnaire through two recruitment methods: e-mail address (online group) and face-to-face (office group). Based on the data pertaining to demography, motivation scores, needs, and barriers, we analyzed the profiles of participating GPs. RESULTS: Among the 283 GPs, online participants (n = 250) were younger than office participants (n = 33) (46 ± 11 vs. 51 ± 12 years, p = 0.0083), and were physically more active (80% vs 51%, p = 0.0006). Regular PA was also critical in the profile of current prescribers (OR = 2.83 (95%CI [1.28, 7.00]), p = 0.015). The motivation score for PAP was high and equal in both groups (10.5 ± 3.3 in a maximum of 15), but multiple barriers emerged, which demonstrated age-dependent variations in the score. Young GPs mostly identified self-imposed barriers (exercise referral, PAP training), while for older GPs these barriers were equally attributable to patients. CONCLUSION: Although the legislative framework given to PAP in France was associated with a 12% increase in the number of prescribers, PA remains poorly prescribed in primary care, even among the most motivated physicians.
OBJECTIVE: Regular physical activity (PA) is a key element in chronic disease management. We studied the effect of a recent legislative framework given to physical activity prescription (PAP) on practices, motivations, barriers, and needs for PAP in primary care among general practitioners (GP) of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, France. METHODS: Our cross-sectional survey used a self-administrated questionnaire through two recruitment methods: e-mail address (online group) and face-to-face (office group). Based on the data pertaining to demography, motivation scores, needs, and barriers, we analyzed the profiles of participating GPs. RESULTS: Among the 283 GPs, online participants (n = 250) were younger than office participants (n = 33) (46 ± 11 vs. 51 ± 12 years, p = 0.0083), and were physically more active (80% vs 51%, p = 0.0006). Regular PA was also critical in the profile of current prescribers (OR = 2.83 (95%CI [1.28, 7.00]), p = 0.015). The motivation score for PAP was high and equal in both groups (10.5 ± 3.3 in a maximum of 15), but multiple barriers emerged, which demonstrated age-dependent variations in the score. Young GPs mostly identified self-imposed barriers (exercise referral, PAP training), while for older GPs these barriers were equally attributable to patients. CONCLUSION: Although the legislative framework given to PAP in France was associated with a 12% increase in the number of prescribers, PA remains poorly prescribed in primary care, even among the most motivated physicians.
Entities:
Keywords:
Physical activity; chronic disease management; exercise referral; prescription; primary care; public health policy