Perceptions of Physical Activity Prescription Among Final-Year Physiotherapy and Medical Students

Purpose: To evaluate final-year physiotherapy and medical students' perceptions of physical activity prescription. Method: A cross-sectional non-validated survey was designed/piloted in English and French. Survey sections/questions were informed by validated questionnaires and existing evidence for physical activity prescription. The open online survey was hosted on Qualtrics, a secure online data collection system. A convenience sample of Canadian final-year physiotherapy and medical students were recruited June 2022 to April 2023 through their programme leads. Altogether 107 students participated (58 medical, 49 physiotherapy). Independent variables were field of study (physiotherapy/medicine) and previous degree. Results: Most participants (99.1%) strongly agreed that physical activity is an essential component of preventive medicine, and 95.3% agreed they needed more training regarding the role of physical activity in preventive medicine. Students felt they had the knowledge (77.0%) and skills (82.0%) required to prescribe physical activity. Knowledge to prescribe was highly correlated with confidence to prescribe physical activity. However, confidence varied with degree programmes and prior education. Conclusions: Physical activity is highly valued among final-year medical/physiotherapy students; they feel knowledgeable and confident in their skills prescribing physical activity. Some factors, such as previous degree (kinesiology) and field of study (physiotherapy), positively influence confidence in designing physical activity programmes.