Physical activity of Estonian family doctors and their counselling for a healthy lifestyle: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

BackgroundPhysical activity offers major health benefits and counselling for it should be integrated into the medical consultation. Based on the literature, the personal health behaviour of the physician (including physical activity) is associated with his/her approach to counselling patients. Our hypothesis is that family doctors (FD) in Estonia are physically active and their recommendation to counsel patients with chronic diseases to use physical activity is high. The study was also interested in how FDs value physical activity among other important determinants of a healthy lifestyle, e.g. nutrition, non-consumption of alcohol, and non-smoking.MethodsPhysicians on the electronic list were contacted by e-mail and sent a questionnaire. The first part assessed physical activity by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) short form. Self-reported physical activity during one week was calculated as total physical activity in minutes per week (MET min/week). The second part of the questionnaire included questions about the counselling of patients with chronic disease concerning their physical activity and a healthy lifestyle. The study focused on female FDs because 95% of the FDs in Estonia are women and to avoid bias related to gender.Results198 female FDs completed the questionnaire. 92% reported that they exercised over the past 7 days to a moderate or high level of physical activity. Analysis revealed no statistically significant relationship between the level of physical activity and general characteristics (age, living area, body mass index [BMI], time spent sitting). FDs reported that patients with heart problems, diabetes, and obesity seek their advice on physical activity more often than patients with depression. Over 94% of the FDs claimed that they counsel their patients with chronic diseases about exercising. According to the FDs' reports, the most important topic in counselling patients for a healthy lifestyle was physical activity.ConclusionThis study showed that female FDs are physically active. The level of physical activity is not related to their age, BMI, living area, or time spent sitting. Also, FDs reported that promotion of physical activity is part of their everyday work.

Correlation between phq-9 score and physical activity level, risk factors and non-communicable diseases in patients in family medicine clinic

“…Other researchers have found similar correlation between depression and physical activity in their surveys [14,15]. Table 3.…”

“…The study on correlation between physical activity and lifestyle conducted in Estonia showed that 92% of interviewed female family doctors do moderate to vigorous physical activity and that the level of physical activity was not related to age, BMI, living area and time they spent sitting [14]. The survey that compared BMI, blood pressure and waist circumference with the level of physical activity, using IPAQ among students in Brazil found sedentary lifestyle in 52% of students.…”

Physical activity level and lifestyle-related risk factors from Catalan physicians

“…In contrast, higher levels of compliance with PA guidelines (92%) were found among a sample of female Estonian physicians. 35 Although these differences may reflect genuine gender differences, i.e., women physicians tend to have better healthy habits than men, the use of different questionnaires or differences in the Health care systems make it difficult to compare between studies. These data confirm that, like physicians from other countries, Catalan physicians comply with the general PA recommendations.…”

Determining the Score for Depression and Its Relationship with the Level of Physical Activity in a Patient at the Family Medicine

“…The study on correlation between physical activity and lifestyle conducted in Estonia showed that 92% of interviewed female family doctors did moderate to vigorous physical activity and that the level of physical activity was not related to age, BMI, living area and time they spent sitting (Suija, Pechter, Maaroos, Kalda, Ratsep, Oona, & Maaroos, 2010).…”