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. 2021 Nov 23;21(1):2143.
doi: 10.1186/s12889-021-12185-7.

Provision of physical activity advice for patients with chronic diseases in Shenzhen, China

Rui Hu  1 , Stanley Sai-Chuen Hui  2 , Eric Kam-Pui Lee  3 , Mark Stoutenberg  4 , Samuel Yeung-Shan Wong  3 , Yi-Jian Yang  1
Affiliations

Provision of physical activity advice for patients with chronic diseases in Shenzhen, China

Rui Hu et al. BMC Public Health. .

Abstract

Background: Physical activity (PA) may best be promoted to patients during clinical consultations. Few studies investigated the practice of PA advice given by physicians, especially in China. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and contents of PA advice given by physicians in China and its association with patients' characteristics.

Methods: Face-to-face questionnaire asking the prevalence and contents of PA advice given by physicians was administered to adult patients in three major hospitals in Shenzhen, China. Attitude of compliance, stature, PA level, and socio-demographic information were also collected. Data was analyzed via descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression.

Results: Of the 454 eligible patients (Age: 47.0 ± 14.4 years), only 19.2% (n = 87) reported receiving PA advice, whereas 21.8%, 23.0%, 32.2%, and 55.2% of patients received advices on PA frequency, duration, intensity, and type, respectively. Male patients were more likely to receive PA advice from physicians [odds ratio (OR): 1.81; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.08-3.05], whereas patients who were unemployed (OR: 0.16; 95% CI: 0.04-0.67), and who already achieved adequate amount of PA (OR: 0.29; 95% CI: 0.12-0.71) were less likely to receive PA advice.

Conclusions: Prevalence of physicians providing physical activity advice to patients is low, there is a pressing need to take intervention measures to educate healthcare providers.

Keywords: Chronic disease; Exercise is medicine; Physician.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow chart outlining the response rate of the survey
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Likelihood of patients (n = 69) follow physical activity advice from their physicians
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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