Training Physicians to Conduct Physical Activity Counseling

• Published in: Preventive medicine 1997-05, Vol.26 (3), p.382-388
• Main Authors: Marcus, Bess H., Goldstein, Michael G., Jette, Alan, Simkin-Silverman, Laurey, Pinto, Bernardine M., Milan, Felise, Washburn, Richard, Smith, Kevin, Rakowski, William, Dubé, Catherine E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Analysis of Variance; Attitude of Health Personnel; exercise; Exercise - psychology; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Health Behavior; Humans; Inservice Training - standards; Male; Middle Aged; Patient Compliance; patient education; Patient Education as Topic - methods; Patient Education as Topic - standards; Physician's Role; Pilot Projects; primary care physicians; Primary Health Care - methods; Program Evaluation; psychological theory; Regression Analysis; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0091-7435; 1096-0260
• DOI: 10.1006/pmed.1997.0158

Background.In accordance with the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendations, the current pilot study tests the feasibility and efficacy of a physician-delivered physical activity counseling intervention. Methods.A sequential comparison group design was used to examine change in self-reported physical activity between experimental (counseling and self-help materials) and control (usual care) patients at baseline and 6 weeks after the initial office visit. Patients in both groups were contacted by telephone 2 weeks after their office visit and asked about the physical activity counseling at their most recent physician visit. Experimental patients also received a follow-up appointment to discuss physical activity with their physician 4 weeks after their initial visit. Results.Counseling was feasible for physicians to do and produced short-term increases in physical activity levels. Both groups increased their physical activity, but the increase in physical activity was greater for patients who reported receiving a greater number of counseling messages. Conclusions.Physician-delivered physical activity interventions may be an effective way to achieve widespread improvements in the physical activity of middle-aged and older adults.