G-36 Free Communication/Poster - Immunology

Abstract

PURPOSE: A current need exists to provide evidence that the Exercise is Medicine (EIM) protocols can be adapted and integrated into primary care practice and achieve successful referral of patients to community-based physical activity (PA) programs. This study examined the efficacy of clinic-based EIM vital sign and referral protocols to YMCA (Y) community programming (YP) compared with the EIM vital sign alone (EA) in changing physical activity behaviors among primary care patients. METHODS: Apparently healthy and/or disease managed adults 18 years and older were eligible to be enrolled in the study. Two academic primary care practices with ∼50 providers were trained in the use of the EIM vital sign and referral protocols. Y fitness personnel from four Y branches were trained in the use of the EIM referral response protocols. In addition to the EIM vital sign assessment, enrolled patients initially completed the short version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and the CDC Personal Health Assessment and Health-related Quality of Life (HRQOL) surveys. These instruments were repeated among all enrolled patients ∼12 weeks following their initial assessment. YP patients were provided with personal PA plans and met regularly with a personal trainer or were enrolled in ongoing PA programming over the study period, while EA patients were provided with PA information only. RESULTS: During the 3 month study period a total of 170 patients were exposed to the EIM vital sign and referral protocols with over 60 patients being referred to the Y. The first wave of results include a total of 30 patients, 16 YP and 14 EA (age = 50 and 47 years, respectively; both groups were 75% female; 46% Caucasian; 54% African American). Pre- and post- assessments revealed significant changes in reported moderate to vigorous PA (YP pre = 44.5 min/wk; EA pre = 68.3 min/wk; vs. YP post = 174.4 min/wk; EA post = 75.6 min/wk, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: These initial results suggest that the EIM vital sign and referral protocol with links to community PA programming is an efficacious approach to increasing PA levels among primary care patients. Such an approach may be effective in impacting the physical activity behaviors of previously inactive adults.