title: General practitioner advice on physical activity--who gets it?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the prevalence and characteristics of patients who received physical activity counseling from a general practitioner.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data presented are from a cross-sectional survey of approximately 2000 Queensland (Australia) adults conducted as part of a multi-strategy, community-based, physical activity intervention (10,000 Steps Rockhampton). The survey included self-reported receipt of general practitioner advice on physical activity as well as demographic, medical, and physical activity questions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Receipt of advice on physical activity was reported by 24.2% of respondents, with advice more likely to be given to males, overweight/obese people, those with chronic conditions, and those more frequently visiting their general practitioners.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rates of physical activity advice and characteristics of patients receiving advice are similar to those reported overseas and suggest that while there is room for improvement, general practitioners are targeting their advice to patients most in need.
authors: University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. e.eakin@uq.edu.au
authors: Elizabeth
authors: E
authors: Eakin
authors: Wendy
authors: W
authors: Brown
authors: Grant
authors: G
authors: Schofield
authors: Kerry
authors: K
authors: Mummery
authors: Marina
authors: M
authors: Reeves
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003376:Counseling / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D010821:Physicians, Family; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors