Promoting physical activity for children: an audit among Italian family paediatricians.

Abstract

This survey aimed to investigate the perception of Italian Paediatricians regarding the promotion of physical activity. From January to May 2015, a survey was conducted among family paediatricians working in Puglia, interviewed by a standardised questionnaire, that investigated demographic information, participation in sporting activity by the paediatrician, opinion on obesity and the promotion of physical activity, and attitude towards enquiring about the physical activity of patients with and without chronic diseases. We collected 200 questionnaires (35.7% of target population). 51.5% of enrolled paediatricians stated that they were participating in sporting activities at the time of the survey. The average opinion regarding the relevance of the obesity was 9±1.4/10 and about the promotion of physical activity 9.6±.8. All enrolled paediatricians asked for their patients' physical activity and encouraged inactive children to begin an appropriate activity. Paediatricians who took part in sport had a high probability of encouraging physical activity, in particular among patients affected by chronic diseases. Family Paediatricians declared a good attitude regarding the promotion of physical activity for their patients according to national and international recommendations. The main concern emerging from our results is the risk of an "inappropriate interdiction" of physical activity in children affected by chronic diseases, in particular physicians that have never participated in a sport.