Physical activity and physical fitness counseling patterns of adult nurse practitioners.
OBJECTIVE
This descriptive exploratory study examined factors related to physical activity counseling practices of adult nurse practitioners (ANPs) nationwide. The purposes of this study were to (a) examine physical activity assessment and counseling practices, (b) identify barriers to physical activity counseling, (c) describe knowledge and confidence in physical activity assessment and counseling, (d) identify personal physical activity practices, and (e) describe use of objective physical fitness measures in the primary care setting.


METHODS
Participants were a randomly selected group of ANPs who are members of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.


CONCLUSIONS
Most ANPs (95%) counsel patients on physical activity at least once a year. As for assessing physical activity, simply asking about it was the most common method (94%). The most common strategy for counseling was discussion (95%). The most common barriers to counseling were lack of time (48%) and preemption by more important concerns (47%). Of fitness measures, the most commonly used was body composition. Cardiorespiratory, strength, flexibility, and balance fitness tests were used infrequently or rarely.


CONCLUSIONS
NPs can use specific physical fitness measures to help assess, guide, and/or motivate physical activity in their patients.
Buchholz
Susan W
SW
School of Nursing, Purdue University Calumet, Hammond, Indiana 46323, USA. buchholz@calumet.purdue.edu
Purath
Janet
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009722:Nurse Practitioners; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D010809:Physical Fitness; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States