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Exploring Healthcare Professionals' Approaches to Promoting Physical Activity and Reducing Sedentary Behaviour in

Amie B Richards1,2, Rachel L Knight1,2,3, Kelly A Mackintosh1,2

  • 1Welsh Institute of Physical Activity, Health and Sport (WIPAHS), Wales, UK.

Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)
|June 26, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Healthcare professionals (HCPs) frequently discuss physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour (SED) with children and young people (CYP). However, systemic changes are needed to improve PA promotion in clinical settings.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Paediatric Health
  • Behavioural Science

Background:

  • Physical inactivity is a major public health issue for children and young people (CYP), especially those in clinical settings.
  • Healthcare professionals (HCPs) are well-placed to promote physical activity (PA) and reduce sedentary behaviour (SED), but implementation is limited.
  • Understanding HCPs' practices, barriers, and facilitators in promoting PA and SED in paediatric clinical populations is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the practices of HCPs in South Wales, UK, regarding PA and SED promotion in paediatric clinical populations.
  • To identify barriers and facilitators encountered by HCPs when promoting PA and SED.
  • To assess HCPs' perceptions and proficiency in delivering PA and SED support to CYP.

Main Methods:

  • A 32-item questionnaire was administered to 41 HCPs (physiotherapists, doctors, occupational therapists, etc.).
  • Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.
  • Qualitative content analysis was performed on free-text responses.

Main Results:

  • 95% of HCPs discussed PA, 90% SED, and 88% exercise during appointments.
  • Only 63% of HCPs felt PA was adequately addressed within their services.
  • Key barriers included time constraints, limited resources, and knowledge gaps; facilitators included training and collaboration.

Conclusions:

  • System-level changes are necessary to empower HCPs in promoting PA and reducing SED for improved CYP health outcomes.
  • Integrating PA promotion into HCP training, expanding referral pathways, and enhancing multidisciplinary work are essential.
  • Consistent and effective messaging from HCPs can significantly impact the health of CYP receiving clinical care.

Keywords:
behaviour changechild healthhealth promotionlifestyle interventions

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