Adherence to national exercise guidelines by patients attending emergency departments: A multi-site survey.
OBJECTIVE
The proportion of adults in Australia meeting or exceeding the national guidelines for physical activity has remained relatively static over the past 10 years. The research objective was to measure self-reported physical activity and sedentary behaviour among ED patients in accordance with Australia's current physical activity and sedentary behaviour guidelines, revised in 2014.


METHODS
A convenience sample of participants was recruited from three EDs in Melbourne between February and May 2016. Eligible participants were administered the International Physical Activity Questionnaire - Short Form plus researcher-derived questions. Participants were assessed as whether meeting the physical activity guidelines or not, using pre-defined criteria.


RESULTS
The proportion of 18-64 year olds meeting all of the physical activity guidelines was 19.0% (95% confidence interval [CI] 15.2-22.8). A majority of participants (63.1%, 95% CI 58.5-67.7) met the aerobic component of the guidelines although only 28.9% (95% CI 24.5-33.3) of participants reported undertaking strength building exercises two or more times per week. Adults in the oldest age group were found to be less likely to engage in muscle strengthening exercises (23.3%, n = 30) than those in the youngest age group (40.0%, n = 60, P = 0.005). Average daily sitting time (minutes) did not differ between men (median = 300) and women (median = 360, P = 0.118).


CONCLUSIONS
Overall adherence with physical activity guidelines is low among adults attending the ED. All adults need to be encouraged to undertake muscle strengthening activities, especially adults in older age groups.
The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Paul
P
Berlingeri
Emergency Department, St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Neil
N
Cunningham
Emergency Department, Austin Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
David McD
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8986-9997
DM
Taylor
Emergency Department, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Jonathan
J
Knott
The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Daniel
D
McLean
The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Rex
R
Gavan
The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Luke
L
Plant
The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Hayley
H
Chen
Emergency Practice Innovation Centre, St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Tracey
T
Weiland
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017408:Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Australia; exercise; guidelines and recommendations; public health