Physical activity promotion in general practice--patient attitudes.
BACKGROUND
Long term adherence to primary care physical activity intervention is poor. This study explored attitudes and subjective experiences of those who received such an intervention.


METHODS
Nested qualitative study within mixed methods approach, involving 15 sedentary adults from urban and rural general practices in New Zealand. Semistructured telephone interviews were conducted, transcribed, and analysed using an inductive approach to identify themes.


RESULTS
Four themes emerged including: tailoring of advice given; barriers to physical activity such as weather, physical environment, time, health and psychological limitations; internal motivators such as immediate or long term psychological, health or spiritual benefits, commitment, and guilt; and the role of significant others such as health and exercise professionals in initiating advice and continuing support, social interaction and commitment or contracts made to others.


CONCLUSIONS
This study highlights the need for a personalised approach, continued structured external support and the need to focus on barriers and facilitators.
Elley
Carolyn Raina
CR
Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, School of Population Health, University of Auckland, New Zealand. c.elley@auckland.ac.nz
Dean
Sarah
S
Kerse
Ngaire
N
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D009520:New Zealand; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011320:Primary Health Care; D036301:Qualitative Research; D040241:Social Marketing; D012944:Social Support