Call to Action: Enhancing 'Exercise is Medicine' from the Perspective of Fitness Professionals

Abstract

Exercise is Medicine (EIM) is an international initiative that aims to incorporate exercise in primary healthcare by encouraging physicians to prescribe exercise and/or refer patients to Fitness Professionals (FPs). To determine how to increase referral and prescription practices previous research has focused solely on the perspective and recommendations of physicians, not FPs. The purpose of the present pilot study was to engage FPs in a focus group to identify problems and discuss solutions to better implement exercise prescriptions and referrals. Personal trainers (n = 12) were recruited to participate. Using a thematic analysis four themes emerged from the focus group that represent the suggestions of FPs to bridge the gap between FPs and Physicians: (1) Increase communication opportunities between physicians and FPs; (2) Increase EIM educational opportunities for physicians and FPs; (3) Include progression and follow-up on the EIM prescription pad and; (4) Prepare the recreational environment to receive exercise referrals.