Healthcare Provider Physical Activity Prescription Intervention Pilot

Abstract

PURPOSE: To examine the feasibility and short-term impact of healthcare providers' recommendations of physical activity on the physical activity levels of patients on preventive care visits. METHODS: Consenting adult patients completed questionnaires on their general health and physical activity (Short Form 36, Aerobic Center Longitudinal Study (ACLS) habitual physical activity, Patient-centered Assessment and Counseling for Exercise (PACE) readiness for physical activity, and Cancer Prevention Research Center exercise self-efficacy), and were assigned to 1 of 3 experimental groups, based on chronological order of entry into the study. At the office visit, the healthcare provider prescribed physical activity using a written prescription only (WP), a WP plus a toolkit containing an elastic band and instructions (WPT), or a WP plus a guide to local physical activity resources (WPG). 1 month post, participants completed the PACE survey, with possible scores from 1 to 8 (higher scores indicate more physical activity). 3 months post, baseline questionnaires were repeated. RESULTS: 24 patients completed data-collection at baseline and 3 months; 22 completed baseline, 1 and 3 months. There were no baseline differences among the groups or between those who completed or did not complete the study. Within the overall group of 24 patients (mean age 57 years + 10.01; mean BMI 33.4+7.6; 14 women/10 men; 9 WP, 6 WPT, 9 WPG) who returned questionnaires at baseline and 3 months, physical activity level, assessed by the PACE survey, increased (p = 0.04) from baseline (3.5+2.0) to 3 months (4.3+1.7). Within group analyses revealed that WPT improved (p = 0.01) from baseline (3.0+1.1) to 3 months (4.8+0.4), whereas WP and WPG did not. Among the 22 participants (all groups combined) who returned questionnaires at baseline, 1 and 3 months, physical activity level increased (p = 0.01) from 1 month (3.7+1.3) to 3 months (4.4+1.6) and approached a significant increase (p = 0.06) between baseline and 3 months. CONCLUSION: Preliminary support is provided for the feasibility, and positive impact of, a healthcare provider's written prescription, in conjunction with a physical activity resource, e.g. an exercise toolkit, to enhance patients' physical activity levels over 3 months. Toolkits donated by the Hygenic Corporation.