Factors Influencing Patient Enrollment in a Community-based Physical Activity Program After Healthcare Provider...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Clinical Medicine
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Structured physical activity (PA) is crucial for chronic disease prevention and management.
• Systematic approaches for patient identification and enrollment in PA programs are often lacking.
• The Exercise is Medicine Greenville (EIMG) model connects primary care patients with chronic diseases to community-based PA programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess factors influencing patient enrollment in a novel clinic-to-community physical activity program.
• To identify barriers and facilitators to enrollment in the Exercise is Medicine Greenville (EIMG) initiative.

Main Methods:

• A mixed methods design was employed over 18 months across 12 clinics.
• Quantitative analysis compared characteristics of enrolled versus non-enrolled referred patients using electronic health records.
• Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with non-enrollees to explore enrollment barriers and facilitators.

Main Results:

• Of 217 eligible referred patients, 84 (38.7%) enrolled in the PA program.
• Enrollees showed a significantly higher prevalence of hypercholesterolemia compared to non-enrollees (73.8% vs. 57.9%, P=.02).
• Qualitative findings revealed themes of positive referral experiences, patient motivation/support, and external barriers (cost, time).

Conclusions:

• Findings can refine the EIMG model to enhance patient enrollment and its health impact.
• The study provides insights for developing similar clinic-to-community PA programs in other health systems.
• Addressing barriers like cost and time is essential for improving program accessibility and effectiveness.