Physical activity promotion: A cross-sectional study exploring the practice, attitudes, and barriers amongst Luxembourg's healthcare professionals

Khatija Bahdur; Miguel Martins; Fraser Carson

doi:10.55225/hppa.585

Authors

Khatija Bahdur LUNEX, Department of Sport and Exercise Science, Differdange, Luxembourg https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2940-6541
Miguel Martins LUNEX, Department of Sport and Exercise Science, Differdange, Luxembourg; Luxembourg Health & Sport Sciences Research Institute A.s.b.l., Luxembourg
Fraser Carson LUNEX, Department of Sport and Exercise Science, Differdange, Luxembourg; Luxembourg Health & Sport Sciences Research Institute A.s.b.l., Luxembourg https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9720-8577

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55225/hppa.585

Keywords:

general practitioners, physiotherapists, non-communicable disease, management, preventative medicine, exercise prescription

Abstract

Purpose: Physical activity (PA) is known to help prevent and minimise the impact of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). This study aimed to explore the attitudes and practices of general practitioners (GPs) and physiotherapists (PTs) in Luxembourg towards promoting PA and the barriers they face.

Material and methods: A total of 174 healthcare professionals (100 GPs and 74 PTs) completed an anonymous electronic questionnaire, which included questions on demographics, attitudes towards PA prescription, the importance of PA as a preventative and treatment modality for NCDs, barriers to exercise prescription, and interest in expanding their knowledge about PA.

Results: The results revealed that 56% of HCPs recommended PA weekly, with 43.7% providing detailed guidelines. Most HCPs (71.6%) acknowledged the importance of PA for managing and preventing chronic conditions. The main barriers to PA counselling were lack of time (23.6%), lack of knowledge (10.9%), and patients preferring medication over exercise (30.5%).

Conclusions: While the study found that healthcare professionals in Luxembourg have positive attitudes towards PA, there are still limitations in prescribing and recommending PA.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

European Commission. Sport and Physical Activity: Special Eurobarometer 525. European Comission; 2022. doi: 10.2766/356346. Google Scholar

GOPA. Global observatory for physical activity card: Luxembourg. https://new.globalphysicalactivityobservatory.com/New%20Country%20cards/Luxembourg.pdf. Accessed March 15, 2024. Google Scholar

Collings PJ, Backes A, Aguayo GA, et al. Device-measured physical activity and sedentary time in a national sample of Luxembourg residents: The ORISCAV-LUX 2 study. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2022;19(1):161. doi: 10.1186/s12966-022-01380-3. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-022-01380-3 Google Scholar

Lion A, Lethal J, Delagardelle C, Seil R, Urhausen A, Theisen D. General practitioners do not counsel more physical activity after a public health campaign. Dtsch Z Sportmed. 2022;73(1):36-42. doi: 10.5960/dzsm.2021.510. Google Scholar

Bull FC, Al-Ansari SS, Biddle S, et al. World Health Organization 2020 guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour. Br J Sports Med. 2020;54(24):1451-1462. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2020-102955. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2020-102955 Google Scholar

Alkerwi A, El Bahi I, Stranges S, et al. Geographic variations in cardiometabolic risk factors in Luxembourg. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2017;14(6):648. doi: 10.3390/ijerph14060648. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14060648 Google Scholar

Cunningham C, O’Sullivan R. Healthcare professionals promotion of physical activity with older adults: A survey of knowledge and routine practice. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(11):6064. doi:10.3390/ijerph18116064. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18116064 Google Scholar

Orrow G, Kinmonth AL, Sanderson S, Sutton S. Effectiveness of physical activity promotion based in primary care: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. BMJ. 2012;344(7850):16. doi: 10.1136/bmj.e1389. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e1389 Google Scholar

Roos MG. Exercise prescription: Knowledge, practice and attitudes among South African doctors. [PhD thesis, unpublished]. Bloemfontein: University of Free State; 2014. Google Scholar

Eisele A, Schagg D, Göhner W. Exercise promotion in physiotherapy: A qualitative study providing insights into German physiotherapists’ practices and experiences. Musculoskelet Sci Pract. 2020;45:102104. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2019.102104. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msksp.2019.102104 Google Scholar

Lethal J. Health sport campaign in Luxembourg: Evaluation of the Sport-Santé campaign to promote physical activity for patients with non-communicable diseases. [PhD thesis]. Luxemburg: Universität des Saarlandes; 2020. https://www.sport-sante.lu/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Dissertation_UdS_Lethal_Jil.pdf. Accessed March 15, 2024. Google Scholar

Lion A, Lethal J, Delagardelle C, Seil R, Urhausen A, Theisen D. general practitioners do not counsel more physical activity after a public health campaign. Dtsch Z Sportmed. 2022;73(1):36-42. doi: 10.5960/dzsm.2021.510. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5960/dzsm.2021.510 Google Scholar

Lobelo F, de Quevedo IG. The evidence in support of physicians and health care providers as physical activity role models. Am J Lifestyle Med. 2016;10(1):36-52. doi: 10.1177/1559827613520120. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1559827613520120 Google Scholar

O’Brien S, Prihodova L, Heffron M, Wright P. Physical activity counselling in Ireland: A survey of doctors’ knowledge, attitudes and self-reported practice. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med. 2019;5(1): e000572. doi: 10.1136/bmjsem-2019-000572. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjsem-2019-000572 Google Scholar

Woodhead G, Sivaramakrishnan D, Baker G. Promoting physical activity to patients: A scoping review of the perceptions of doctors in the United Kingdom. Syst Rev. 2023;12(1):104. doi: 10.1186/s13643-023-02245-x. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-023-02245-x Google Scholar

Brorsson Lundqvist E, Praetorius Björk M, Bernhardsson S. Physical activity on prescription in Swedish primary care: A survey on use, views, and implementation determinants amongst general practitioners. Scand J Prim Health Care. 2024;42(1):61-71. doi: 10.1080/02813432.2023.2288126. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02813432.2023.2288126 Google Scholar

Bello B, Hartley SE, Yeowell G. Nigerian physiotherapists’ knowledge, current practice and perceptions of their role for promoting physical activity: A cross-sectional survey. PLoS One. 2022;17(5 May). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0266765. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0266765 Google Scholar

Chatterjee R, Chapman T, Brannan MGT, Varney J. GPs’ knowledge, use, and confidence in national physical activity and health guidelines and tools: A questionnaire-based survey of general practice in England. British Journal of General Practice. 2017;67(663):e668-e675. doi: 10.3399/bjgp17X692513. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp17X692513 Google Scholar

Kahn EB, Ramsey LT, Brownson RC, et al. The effectiveness of interventions to increase physical activity a systematic review. Am J Prev Med. 2002;22(4 Suppl):73-107. doi: 10.1016/s0749-3797(02)00434-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0749-3797(02)00434-8 Google Scholar

Buffart L, van der Ploeg HP, Smith B, Kurko J, King L, Bauman AE. General practitioners’ perceptions and practices of physical activity counselling: changes over the past 10 years. Br J Sports Med. 2009;43(14):1149-1153. doi: 10.1136/bjsm.2008.049577. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.2008.049577 Google Scholar

Netherway J, Smith B, Monforte J. Training healthcare professionals on how to promote physical activity in the UK: A scoping review of current trends and future opportunities. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(13):6701. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18136701. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18136701 Google Scholar

Weiler R, Chew S, Coombs N, Hamer M, Stamatakis E. Physical activity education in the undergraduate curricula of all UK medical schools: Are tomorrow’s doctors equipped to follow clinical guidelines? Br J Sports Med. 2012;46(14):1024-1026. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2012-091380. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2012-091380 Google Scholar

Mckenna J, Naylor PJ, Mcdowell N. Barriers to physical activity promotion by general practitioners and practice nurses. Br J Sports Med. 1998;32(3):242-247. doi: 10.1136/bjsm.32.3.242. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.32.3.242 Google Scholar

Vinu W, Kumar V. Remedial exercise training program (aerobic and brisk walk training) for type II diabetes (T2DM). SPORT TK-Revista EuroAmericana de Ciencias del Deporte. 2024;13(6). doi: 10.6018/sportk.548491. DOI: https://doi.org/10.6018/sportk.548491 Google Scholar

Keller K, Engelhardt M. Strength and muscle mass loss with aging process. Age and strength loss. Muscles Ligaments Tendons J. 2014. 24;3(4):346-350. Google Scholar

McInnis KJ, Franklin BA, Rippe JM. Counseling for physical activity in overweight and obese patients. Am Fam Physician. 2003 Mar 15;67(6):1249-1256. Google Scholar

Kunstler BE, Cook JL, Kemp JL, O’Halloran PD, Finch CF. The self-reported factors that influence Australian physiotherapists’ choice to promote non-treatment physical activity to patients with musculoskeletal conditions. J Sci Med Sport. 2019;22(3):275-280. doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2018.08.006. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2018.08.006 Google Scholar

Stead M, Angus K, Holme I, et al. Factors influencing European GPs’ engagement in smoking cessation: A multi-country literature review. Br J Gen Pract. 2009;59(566):682-690. doi: 10.3399/bjgp09X454007. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp09X454007 Google Scholar

Schäfer WLA, van den Berg MJ, Groenewegen PP. The association between the workload of general practitioners and patient experiences with care: Results of a cross-sectional study in 33 countries. Hum Resour Health. 2020;18(1):76. doi: 10.1186/s12960-020-00520-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12960-020-00520-9 Google Scholar

Marques-Sule E, Miró-Ferrer S, Muñoz-Gómez E, et al. Physical activity in health care professionals as a means of primary prevention of cardiovascular disease: A STROBE compliant cross-sectional study. Medicine. 2021;100(22):e26184. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000026184. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000026184 Google Scholar