Pediatricians and physical activity counseling: how does residency prepare them for this task?
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 11, 2026
Physical Activity Measurement in Children Accepting Table Tennis Training
Published on: July 27, 2022
Sarah L Goff1, Eric S Holboe, John Concato
1Department of Pediatrics, Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, Massachusetts 01199, USA. cherbitt@montefiore.org
Purpose:
Physical activity (PA) health benefits are clear, yet few children in the United States achieve recommended PA levels. Pediatricians provide PA counseling, but it is not known how residencies prepare trainees for this task. The objective was to determine current training methods for PA counseling in pediatric residency programs.
Summary:
Web-based questionnaire exploring curricular content, barriers to curriculum development, and attitudes/beliefs about the pediatrician's role regarding PA counseling was sent to 192 U.S. pediatric residency directors. There were 115 of 192 (60%) programs that responded. Curricula focused on knowledge-based topics with limited training in counseling skills. Respondents felt PA counseling was important, but few felt they could influence PA. Perceived barriers to curriculum development included lack of space in the curriculum, few trained faculty, and insufficient educational materials.
Conclusions:
Curricula that include a skills-based component in addition to knowledge attainment may improve pediatricians' PA counseling skills.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion
01:30Specialized Care Centers and Settings-II
Rural health centers are specialized care facilities in remote locations with very few medical personnel. The primary care providers who run the centers are mostly Registered Nurse Practitioners. Here, emergency treatment is provided to critically ill or injured patients before they are transferred to the closest hospital. Fortunately, due to advancement in technology, many rural healthcare facilities and professionals have easy access to diagnostic and treatment...
01:23Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption
01:17Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution
01:25Pulmonary Function Tests
Pulmonary Function Tests are crucial diagnostic tools for assessing respiratory function, particularly in patients with chronic respiratory disorders. They comprehensively evaluate lung volumes, ventilatory function, breathing mechanics, diffusion, and gas exchange. These tests help diagnose pulmonary diseases and play a significant role in monitoring disease progression, evaluating disability, and assessing response to therapy.
PFTs involve using a spirometer, a...
01:30Specialized Care Centers and Settings-I
Daycare centers
They provide several functions. Some facilities care for healthy newborns and children whose parents work, while others are medically focused and care for...