Abstract
This study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors with physical activity counseling among Brazilian Family Health Strategy workers. This is a cross-sectional study conducted with a random sample of 591 health workers who work in the Family Health Teams of João Pessoa-PB, Brazil. Counseling for physical activity was defined as any advising targeted for increasing patients' physical activity levels conducted for at least six months. The following factors were considered: time working in health care units, amount of daily attendance, continuing education, perceived barriers, self-efficacy, attitude, self-rated health, physical activity level and nutritional status. Prevalence of counseling was 46.3%, being higher among physicians (74.5%; 95%CI: 59.6-85.2) and nurses (60.3%; 95%CI: 48.0-71.4) compared to community health workers (42.9%; 95%CI: 38.2-47.7) and nurses assistants (31.5%; 95%CI: 20.2-45.4). The results showed health professionals with positive self-rated health, without perception of barriers, having a positive attitude and high self-efficacy were more likely to perform physical activity counseling. Knowledge and actions on factors associated with physical activity counseling can help broaden the involvement of primary health care providers in health education.
Highlights
Physical inactivity pandemics are intrinsically related to Non-communicable diseases (NCD) and their death and disease burden[1]
Knowledge and actions on factors associated with physical activity counseling can help broaden the involvement of primary health care providers in health education
The Brazilian public health agenda made advances in upscaling physical activity promotion[3] and primary care has been recognized as a fundamental setting to tackle the burdens related to NCD and promote physical activity[4,5]
Summary
Physical inactivity pandemics are intrinsically related to Non-communicable diseases (NCD) and their death and disease burden[1]. Brazil’s primary care model is based on the Family Health Strategy which comprehends a robust approach to providing primary care for geographically defined areas based on interprofessional teamwork that includes general practitioners, nurses, nurses assistants, and community health workers[6]. It displays a high population coverage rate[7] and evidence suggests important population health improvements[8]. Several constraints may hinder adopting counseling practices in primary care in providing routine work as well hampering its quality, such as poor knowledge on physical activity recommendations, lack of time, health providers’ personal characteristics, educational opportunities and health service characteristics[16,21,22,23]
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