title: Physical activity training in US medical schools: Preparing future physicians to engage in primary prevention.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Medical professionals serve as influential sources of information and guidance for their patients. Medical school may be an opportune time to provide future physicians with training in physical activity (PA) so that it can be more effectively addressed in clinical practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  To assess the inclusion and amount of PA training in US medical school curricula, we attempted to conduct structured interviews with the program directors of the 171 accredited US medical education programs in the spring of 2013.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-four schools (allopathic, n = 64; osteopathic, n = 10) completed the structured interviews. Fifty-eight programs (78.4%) reported having PA training included as a part of their curriculum. Thirty-five (61.4%) and 25 (43.9%) programs included instruction on national aerobic and strength training guidelines, respectively. Thirty-one programs (56.4%) felt that they offered a sufficient level of PA-related training for their students to successfully counsel their patients in the future. Over the 4 years of medical school, an average of 8.1 (± 9.8) h of mandatory PA training was offered.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Though many medical schools report providing some level of PA content, the time dedicated for this training is still low in comparison to other topics, such as nutrition education, which are featured more prominently. New and innovative ideas are needed for the integration of more, higher quality PA training for our next generation of medical practitioners.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami , 1120 NW 14th Street, Suite 1008, Miami, FL 33136, USA.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stoutenberg
authors.affiliation: b Texas A&M University , College Station, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Selina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stasi
authors.affiliation: c Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney , Sydney, Australia.|d Exercise and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney , Sydney, Australia.|e Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London , UK.
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stamatakis
authors.affiliation: f Lake Eerie College of Osteopathic Medicine , Bradenton, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Dagmara
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Danek
authors.affiliation: g University of Miami , Coral Gables, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Taylor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dufour
authors.affiliation: h University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville , Greenville, SC, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Trilk
authors.affiliation: i Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina , Columbia, SC, USA.
authors.forename: Steven N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Blair
mesh_terms: D003376:Counseling; D003479:Curriculum; D015444:Exercise; D006801:Humans; D009043:Motor Activity; D010021:Osteopathic Medicine; D010820:Physicians; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000193:education* / Q000379:methods; D012577:Schools, Medical; D014481:United States
keywords: Behavior change; exercise; medical education; physical activity; students; training