Collaborative team-based health promotion in a primary care setting: The MOVE program.

Area of Science:

• Primary care research
• Health promotion strategies
• Physical activity interventions

Background:

• Primary care settings offer opportunities for physician-led health promotion.
• Patient engagement in physical activity programs can improve health outcomes.
• Innovative programs are needed to support behavior change in patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility, patient satisfaction, and effectiveness of a primary care-based, physician-led physical activity program.
• To assess the impact of the MOVE program on patient physical function.
• To explore the role of family physicians (FPs) in health promotion.

Main Methods:

• Initial assessment of the MOVE program's feasibility and patient satisfaction.
• Intervention involved a primary care-based, physician-led physical activity program (MOVE) delivered by an FP and kinesiologist.
• Main outcome measures included the 6-minute walk test and patient survey results.

Main Results:

• Patients reported significant benefits from participating in the MOVE program.
• The 6-minute walk test results showed improvement over a 2-month period (587m vs 653m, P < .001).
• The program demonstrated feasibility and positive patient satisfaction.

Conclusions:

• Physician-led, primary care-based health promotion activities can be successful in facilitating patient behavior change.
• The MOVE program is an effective model for improving physical activity in primary care patients.
• Family physicians play a key role in implementing innovative health promotion initiatives.