Developing physical activity counselling practices in primary care

Purpose of the project was to develop physical activity (PA) practices in four municipal health centres in Pirkanmaa district using Physical Activity Prescription (PAP).

Background 

In previous studies (PAP) has been proven feasible and effective in promoting PA in routine health care practices. However, local efforts are needed to facilitate adoption of PAP among health care providers.

Purpose 

The project was implemented at local level in health centres
• to increase health care providers’ knowledge about PA, health and behavioural counselling
• to increase PA counselling and its documenting in electronic patient records
• to improve counselling practices by facilitating the uptake of PAP
• to enhance collaboration between counselling providers.

Implementation 

Four municipal health centres in Pirkanmaa district participated in the project. A multi-professional team was nominated in each centre to take the responsibility for the 6-month development process.
The researchers supported the team with:
• baseline and follow-up evaluation
• one whole-staff training session
• four goal-oriented tutor meetings
• e-mailed tasks in-between.
In the end of the process a meeting was held in each health centre to summarize the outcomes and to plan further actions.

Evaluation 

Outcome evaluation was based on:
• baseline and follow-up questionnaires to the health care staff
• counselling logs completed by the health care staff
• a questionnaire to the patients
• telephone interview to the third sector agents
The main outcomes were:
• knowledge about PA and behavioural counselling
• the frequency and contents of PA counselling
• the frequency of using PAP
• the frequency of documenting PA counselling in the patient records
• collaboration between counselling providers
Process evaluation was based on the meeting minutes of the responsible teams and tutor meetings. They helped to explain the underlying factors promoting or preventing change.

Schedule 

2010–2013 

Tools and materials 

During the project a working tool kit was developed, including assessment questionnaire, logs, and working manual to guide the multiprofessional team through the process. The tool kit “Liikuntaneuvonta yhteiseksi asiaksi – Liikkumisresepti käyttöön” is freely available in www.ukkinstituutti,fi/liikkumisresepti.

PAP is a tool for the physicians to initiate discussion about physical activity with the patient and to refer the patient to other health or exercise professional for more detailed action-planning and follow-up.

Physical Activity Prescription (PAP) for adults www.ukkinstituutti.fi/liikkumisresepti:  a form to fil in online. 

Contact 

Minna Aittasalo, Senior Researcher 
minna.aittasalo(a)ukkinstituutti.fi 
 
Research group: Erja Toropainen, Minna Aittasalo, Katriina Kukkonen-Harjula, Marjo Rinne, Tommi Vasankari 

Publications 

 Aittasalo M, Kukkonen-Harjula K, Toropainen E, Rinne M, Tokola K, Vasankari T. Developing physical activity counselling in primary care through participatory action approach. BMC Family Practice 2016;17:141 

For all publications of this research, see the Finnish description. To find the list of publications “Julkaisuja”, scroll the page down. To open the publication links, click “Lue lisaa” and “Lue julkaisu”.