UK physiotherapists delivering physical activity advice: what are the challenges and possible solutions? A qualitative study

Abstract

ObjectivesDespite the known health benefits of physical activity (PA), PA levels are in decline. Healthcare professionals, including physiotherapists, have been identified as ideal conduits to promote PA, yet their knowledge and awareness of PA guidelines are poor. The aims of this study were to explore current knowledge of PA guidelines among UK physiotherapists and identify barriers and possible solutions to delivering PA advice.DesignA qualitative approach using semistructured interviews that took place between March and May 2021. Data were analysed with a thematic approach using Braun and Clarke’s six steps.SettingVarious inpatient and outpatient clinical settings across six UK regions.ParticipantsEighteen UK-based physiotherapists managing National Health Service patients were recruited through volunteer sampling in March 2021.ResultsFive themes and 16 subthemes (shown in parenthesis) were identified as barriers and solutions to delivering PA advice: physiotherapist intrinsic barriers (knowledge, fear/confidence); a lack of emphasis and priority given to PA (time constraints, minimal educational and staff training); patient barriers (compliance, expectations and fear of doing PA); increasing awareness of the PA guidelines (staff training, signposting awareness, use of social media and television campaigns); and optimising delivery (use of visual resources, good communication and approaches involving being individualised and gradual for patients with chronic conditions).ConclusionsIn this study, physiotherapist participants seemed to have limited awareness of the PA guidelines despite recent updates and were faced with similar barriers to those previously reported in the literature. The solutions suggested could guide strategies to support physiotherapists being able to deliver PA advice. Further research is needed to evaluate the efficiency of any implemented solutions supporting the delivery of PA advice.

UK midwives delivering physical activity advice; what are the challenges and possible solutions?

“…A qualitative research study was conducted examining midwives' knowledge and delivery of PA advice for pregnant and postpartum women. This study forms part of a larger project examining knowledge and promotion of PA guidelines amongst other HCPs ( 33 , 34 ). Ethical approval was given by the Faculty of Biological Sciences at the University of Leeds (27 July 2020/BIOSCI 19-039).…”

UK Nurses Delivering Physical Activity Advice: What Are the Challenges and Possible Solutions? A Qualitative Study

“…A qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured interviews and standards for reporting qualitative research [16]. The research approach was informed by other studies exploring healthcare professionals' (HCPs) perceptions towards providing PA advice to patients [17,18].…”

“…There is a need for research into the barriers and facilitators that nurses encounter when providing PA advice. Previous studies which have explored this in a range of healthcare professions have done so using a qualitative approach [16,17]. This is due to the essential human factors and complexities surrounding PA uptake and compliance issues.…”