Physical activity and health promotion strategies among physiotherapists in Rwanda

Physical inactivity has become a global health concern and is among the 10 leading causes of death and disability. Physiotherapists are in a position to combat inactivity and effectively promote physical activity to their clients.

To establish the relationship between physical activity levels of physiotherapists and their physical activity promotion strategies.

A sequential mixed method design was used by means of a self-administered questionnaire (n=92) and a focus group discussion comprising of 10 purposively selected physiotherapists. Descriptive statistics were employed to summarize demographic information. Inferential statistics was used to test the associations between different categorical variables (p<0.05). Tape recorded interviews were transcribed. Thematic analysis was then done.

The findings revealed that 64% of the participants were physically active both within the work and recreation domains and 65% of the participants had good physical activity promoting practices. Discussing physical activity and giving out information regarding physical activity were most common methods used in promotion of physical activity. Policies on physical activity, cultural influence, and nature of work, time management as well as the environment were the barriers highlighted.

Although physiotherapists experience barriers to promoting physical activity, they have good physical activity promoting practices.