Health Care Providers’ Perspectives on Promoting Physical Activity and Exercise in Health Care

Health care providers (HCPs) are entrusted with providing credible health-related information to their patients/clients. Patients/clients who receive physical activity and exercise (PAE) advice from an HCP typically increase their PAE level. However, most HCPs infrequently discuss PAE or prescribe PAE, due to the many challenges (e.g., time, low confidence) they face during regular patient care. The purpose of this study was to ascertain HCPs’ perspectives of what could be done to promote PAE in health care. HCPs (n = 341) across Nova Scotia completed an online self-reflection survey regarding their current PAE practices and ideas to promote PAE. The sample consisted of 114 physicians, 114 exercise professionals, 65 dietitians, and 48 nurses. Quantitative textual analysis (frequency of theme ÷ number of respondents) was performed to identify common themes to promote PAE in health care. In the pooled sample, the primary theme cited was to increase the availability of community programs (24.1% of respondents), followed by more educational opportunities for providers (22.5%), greater promotion of PAE from HCPs (17.1%), reducing financial barriers experienced by patients/clients (16.3%), and increasing availability of qualified exercise professionals (15.0%). Altogether, increased PAE education and greater availability of affordable community PAE programs incorporating qualified exercise professionals, would reduce barriers preventing routine PAE promotion and support the promotion of PAE in Nova Scotia.