Article
Details
Citation
Carstairs SA, Rogowsky RH, Cunningham KB, Sullivan F & Ozakinci G (2020) Connecting primary care patients to community-based physical activity: A qualitative study of health professional and patient views. BJGP Open, 4 (3). https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgpopen20X101100
Abstract
Background
Inconclusive evidence supporting referrals from health professionals to gym-based exercise programmes has raised concern for the roll-out of such schemes, and highlights the importance of developing links between healthcare settings and community-based opportunities to improve physical activity (PA) levels.
Aim
This study aimed to identify methods, and explore barriers and facilitators, of connecting primary care patients with PA opportunities from the perspectives of both health professionals (HPs) and patients, using the example of jogs cotland.
Design & setting
An exploratory study utilising semi-structured interviews with primary care patients (n = 14) and HPs (n = 14) from one UK NHS board was conducted.
Method
Patient and HP transcripts were analysed separately using thematic analysis. Potential methods of connection were identified. The Capability, Opportunity, Motivation, behavioural (COM-B) model and theoretical domains framework (TDF) were employed to facilitate identification of barriers and facilitators for connecting primary care to community jogscotland groups.
Results
Three methods of connecting patients to community-based groups were identified: informal passive signposting, informal active signposting, and formal referral or prescribing. Barriers and facilitators for patient connection fell into five TDF domains for HPs and two COM-B model components for patients.
Conclusion
For patients, HPs raising the topic of PA can help to justify, facilitate, and motivate action to change. The workload associated with connecting patients with community-based opportunities is central to implementation by HPs. Integrative resource solutions and social support for patients can provide a greater variety of PA options and the vital information and support for connecting with local opportunities, such as jogscotland.
Keywords
Physical activity; health promotion; social prescribing; primary health; care; consultation; motivation
Journal
BJGP Open: Volume 4, Issue 3
Status | Published |
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Funders | University of St Andrews |
Publication date | 31/08/2020 |
Publication date online | 25/08/2020 |
Date accepted by journal | 20/04/2020 |
URL | http://hdl.handle.net/1893/33577 |
eISSN | 2398-3795 |
People (1)
Professor and Deputy Dean of Faculty, Psychology