Physical activity on prescription (PAP) from the general practitioner’s perspective – a qualitative study

BMC Family Practice

Research Article

Eva Lena Strandberg¹  Gerthi Persson¹  Eva Ekvall Hansson²  Annika Brorsson²  Margareta Troein² 

[1] Blekinge Centre of Competence, SE-371 81, Karlskrona, Sweden;Department of Clinical Sciences in Malmö/ Family Medicine, Lund University, Jan Waldenströms gata 35, SE-205 02, Malmö, Sweden;Department of Clinical Sciences in Malmö/ Family Medicine, Lund University, Jan Waldenströms gata 35, SE-205 02, Malmö, Sweden;

关键词: Focus group;    Physical activity;    Prescription;    Primary health care;    Promotion;   

DOI  :  10.1186/1471-2296-14-128

 received in 2013-04-08, accepted in 2013-07-26,  发布年份 2013

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundPhysical activity on prescription (PAP) is a successful intervention for increasing physical activity among patients with a sedentary lifestyle. The method seems to be sparsely used by general practitioners (GPs) and there is limited information about GPs’ attitudes to counselling using PAP as a tool. The aim of the study was to explore and understand the meaning of prescribing physical activity from the general practitioner’s perspective.MethodsThree focus group interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 15 Swedish GPs in the south of Sweden. Participants were invited to talk about their experience of using PAP. The interviews were transcribed verbatim, analysed using qualitative content analysis.ResultsThe analysis resulted in four categories: The tradition makes it hard to change attitude, Shared responsibility is necessary, PAP has low status and is regarded with distrust and Lack of procedures and clear guidelines. Traditionally GPs talk with patients about the importance of an increased level of physical activity but they do not prescribe physical activity as a treatment. Physician’s education focuses on the use of pharmaceuticals. The responsibility for patients’ physical activity level is shared with other health professionals, the patient and society. The GPs express reservations about prescribing physical activity. A heavy workload is a source of frustration. PAP is regarded with distrust and considered to be a task of less value and status. Using a prescription to emphasize an increased level is considered to be redundant and the GPs think it should be administered by someone else in the health care system. Scepticism about the result of the method was also expressed.ConclusionsThere is uncertainty about using PAP as a treatment since physicians lack education in non-pharmaceutical methods. The GPs do not regard the written referral as a prioritized task and rather refer to other professionals in the health care system to prescribe PAP. GPs pointed out a need to create routines and arrangements for the method to gain credibility and become everyday practice among GPs.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Persson et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2013