Analysis of Madrid Primary Health-Care staff for the implementation of exercise prescription

To assess the self-perception of nurses and general practitioners (GPs) toward Physical Activity on Prescription (PAP) in Madrid Primary Health-Care (PHC).

A survey-cohort study. SITE: Nurses and GPs of Madrid PHC System.

A total of 319 GPs and 285 nurses' responders.

Data were analyzed under a classification tree analysis by four predictor variables: (i) Health professional (Nurses/GPs); (ii) Exercise prescription collaboration with all health professionals: physicians, nurses, psychologists, physical therapists, sports medicine physicians, sports scientists, nutritionists, and teachers (Yes/No); (iii) PA promotion collaboration with Sports Scientists (Yes/No); and (iv) The stage of change of PHC staff to PA promotion (0-4 Likert scale).

Regarding the predictor variable (i), responders without PA guidelines knowledge and positive attitude to collaborate with nurses in PA promotion are more GPs of female sex (nurses n=33 and GPs n=175) than male sex (nurses n=3 and GPs n=59) (p<.001). For the predictor variable (ii) only 9.30% of PHC staff with a positive attitude to collaborate with all health professionals in PA promotion and exercise prescription. For the predictor variable (iii) was shown low collaboration with sports physicians and sports scientists under a multidisciplinary PAP approach (26.50% responders). Finally, in the predictor variable (iv) Staff maintaining PAP for at least 6 months, self-considered active, and with PAP knowledge want to collaborate with Sports scientists (Yes=233; No=133).

Nurses and GPs are conscious of health-related PA benefits despite the lack of PAP knowledge and lack of willingness to collaborate with other health personnel, exercise professionals, and community resources available.