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Updated: Mar 26, 2026
Visualization of Intensity Levels to Reduce the Gap Between Self-Reported and Directly Measured Physical Activity
Published on: March 7, 2019
Physicians', nurses' and community health workers' knowledge about physical activity in Brazil: A cross-sectional
Laura Burdick1, Gregore I Mielke1, Diana C Parra2
1Federal University of Pelotas, Postgraduate Program in Epidemiology, Pelotas, Brazil.
Objectives:
To measure knowledge of current recommendations of physical activity and consequences of physical inactivity among healthcare providers throughout Brazil.
Methods:
A phone survey of 1600 randomly selected primary healthcare units in Brazil was conducted between January and July 2011. At each unit, a physician, nurse or community healthcare worker (n = 798) responded to a 40-minute survey, eliciting information about demographics, knowledge, and health behaviors pertaining to physical activity.
Results:
Among nurses and community healthcare workers, > 95% reported needing more information on physical activity guidelines. Among physicians this proportion was 80%. Nearly 40% of the professionals incorrectly believed 90-min of moderate-intensity physical activity per week is the recommended amount for health benefits; nearly 30% believed that 90-min of vigorous-intensity activity per week is needed for the same purpose. More than 75% of all groups reported that type II diabetes, hypertension, depression, and coronary heart disease might result from physical inactivity, but on average only 60% from each group are aware of osteoporosis as a possible consequence of physical inactivity.
Conclusions:
Training health professionals in how to convey all relevant information about physical activity to their patients is critical for health promotion within the primary care system in Brazil.
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