title: General practitioners' attitude to sport and exercise medicine services: a questionnaire-based survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Sport and exercise medicine (SEM) aims to manage sporting injuries and promote physical activity. This study explores general practitioners' (GPs) awareness, understanding and utilisation of their local SEM services.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire survey, including patient case scenarios, was administered between February and May 2011.
  
  
  METHODS
  693 GPs working in Cardiff and Vale, Leicester and Tower Hamlets were invited to participate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  244 GPs responded to the questionnaire (35.2% response rate). Less than half (46%; 112/244) were aware of their nearest SEM service and only 38% (92/244) had a clear understanding on referral indications. The majority (82%; 199/244) felt confident advising less active patients about exercise. There were divergent management opinions about the case scenarios of patients who were SEM referral candidates. Overall, GPs were significantly more likely to refer younger patients and patients with sport-related problems rather than patients who would benefit from increasing their activity levels in order to prevent or manage chronic conditions (p<0.01). GPs with previous SEM training were significantly more likely to refer (p<0.01). The majority (62%; 151/244) had never referred patients to their local SEM clinics but of those who had 75% (70/93) rated the service as good.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a lack of awareness and understanding among GPs on the role of SEM within the National Health Service which may be resulting in suboptimal utilisation especially for patients who could benefit from increasing their activity levels.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Mann Ward, Mile End Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kassam
authors.affiliation: Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Mann Ward, Mile End Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tzortziou Brown
authors.affiliation: Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Mann Ward, Mile End Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: O'Halloran
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport and Exercise Medicine, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester, UK School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Bath, UK.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wheeler
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, Cardiff and Vale University Local Health Board Headquarters, Whitchurch Hospital, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fairclough
authors.affiliation: Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Mann Ward, Mile End Hospital, London, UK Department of Musculoskeletal Disorders, University of Salerno Medical School, Salerno, Italy.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Maffulli
authors.affiliation: Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Mann Ward, Mile End Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Morrissey
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D015444:Exercise; D058005:General Practitioners / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D010819:Physician's Role; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013178:Sports Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: EDUCATION & TRAINING (see Medical Education & Training); MEDICAL EDUCATION & TRAINING; PRIMARY CARE; SPORTS MEDICINE