Background

An unhealthy lifestyle means increased risk for illness and disease, and also increased medical costs. The beneficial effect of physical activity on several chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus type II, high blood pressure and musculoskeletal disorders is obvious (1). Physical activity on referral (FaR®) is a well-known concept in Östergötland County Council, Sweden for increasing physical activity level in sedentary patients (2). The FaR® model was introduced in 2001 by the Swedish National Institute of Public Health (3). The referred patients may suffer from several diseases such as diabetes mellitus type 2, hypertension, lipid disturbance, overweight/obesity, mental ill-health, and they are often physically inactive. A Lifestyle Reception was established at Vadstena Primary Health Care Centre (PHCC) at the beginning of the 21st century to which patients are referred by registered health care professionals employed at the PHCC. Such high risk patients are offered motivational interviews (MI), where the advantages/disadvantages of maintaining/changing life-style habits are thoroughly discussed, to motivate the patient to make his/her own choice for eventual behavioural change (4). Health profile assessment includes on the one hand a questionnaire concerning questions about different activities performed in leisure-time; frequency of physical activity; eating, smoking and drinking habits; medication; physical symptoms; perceived mental stress; perceived loneliness; perceived health, and on the other aerobic capacity test. In addition body weight and height are measured and self-estimated health is stated by the Euro-Qol visual analogue scale (www.euroqol.org). The patients are welcome to different group activities at the PHCC for instance Risk factor group for patients with overweight, high blood pressure and/or diabetes type II; Rehabilitation group for people on the sick list; “Feel-good” group for improved muscle strength and balance performance tailored in particular for the elderly; and also Qi-Gong group for relaxation, improved coordination and balance performance. Since the year 2007 Vadstena PHCC has the aim to prescribe at least 50 FaR® each year.

The Swedish public health recommendation of at least 30 min physical activity on a moderate intensity level, for instance brisk walks every day, is based on international recommendations (5, 6). The Swedish Council on Technology Assessment in Health Care emphasised that there is lack of knowledge concerning long-term effects of different measurements for the promotion of physical activity. More studies on physical activity promotion in primary care have been demanded (7, 8). Some recent studies investigated if the prescription of FaR® may result in changed self-reported physical activity levels by follow-up interview or self-administered questionnaire after 3, 6 and/or 12 months (3, 9). Low compliance is a common problem amongst patients who are prescribed physical activity. Behavioural change extends over a long-term period and motivation to lifestyle change could be enhanced by MI and adequate feedback, when meeting patients in the clinic (4). In the present study of FaR® there was an appointment with a nurse at the Life-style Reception and different follow-up measures.

Aim/objectives: Do sedentary primary health care patients increase their physical activity level after prescribed physical activity on referral (FaR®), motivational interview, and follow-up?

Materials and Methods

An intervention study of FaR® was performed at the Lifestyle Reception at Vadstena PHCC in 2007 (Vadstena population of approximately 7 500). A specific FaR® form, developed by the Östergötland County Council, was used for the prescription of physical activity. The FaR® scheme is a single-paged prescription form, which includes patient characteristics such as gender, age, perceived health, frequency of performed physical activity level for at least 30 minutes on a moderate intensity for a normal week and also for the last week, reasons for the prescription (nine different alternatives are possible), preferred selected physical activity and also duration, frequency and intensity of planned performed activity (3, 10). Those patients who had a diagnosis associated to insufficient physical activity were referred to the Lifestyle Reception at Vadstena PHCC and were contacted by telephone according to ordinary routine and had an appointment reserved with the nurse at the Reception. The preliminary participants were introduced to the follow-up study and were informed that the data should be confidentially handled. Those interested in participating gave verbal informed consent to the study. MI (10, 11) was conducted by the nurse and the FaR® form was completed. Aerobic capacity was tested at base-line and at the 3-4 month follow-up by a computerized exercise bicycle or by a modified six-minute walk test (12). The walk test was chosen for those who were taking drugs, which might influence heart rate and blood pressure, and for those who were not able to pedal the bicycle due to joint disorders. Heart rate was followed and documented each minute of the aerobic test. Subjective effort was estimated according to Borg’s RPE-scale®, which is a valid method to assess perceived exertion based on a numeric scale with the ratings between 6 and 20 (13). The participants recorded their physical activity in a diary from the start of the project to the follow-up visit after 3-4 months. Load, speed and inclination were constant for each participant at the follow-up visit. Body weight (kg) was measured on a digital balance scale and height (cm) with a calibrated stadiometer, with the subjects in light indoor clothes and without shoes. BMI was calculated as weight/height squared (kg/m²).

Statistical analysis

Results

Participants

Physical activity

Duration

Compliance

Perceived health

Self-reported perceived health improved amongst the participants (n=103) (Table I).

Figure 1

Table I. Proportions of participants (n=103) reporting perceived health.

Aerobic capacity tests and body weight

Discussion

The importance of performing physical activity for maintaining health is no longer disputed. Sedentary patients with musculoskeletal diagnosis and/or metabolic disorders are important groups for the primary health care to focus on (1, 9, 10). The present intervention study indicated that self-reported physical activity increased in sedentary persons by means of FaR® prescription, MI, diary, and follow-up by aerobic capacity test. This is in agreement with other studies, which showed that physical activity level can be enhanced in primary health care patients by prescription of FaR® (3, 9, 14). Besides the increased physical activity, aerobic capacity and perceived health were improved at the 3-4 month follow-up. Walk and cycle tests may be used on the one hand to get an idea of the patient’s aerobic capacity and on the other to control the training intensity and to enhance the motivation at follow-ups, and thus support the effect of training (10, 12). The participation rate was good in the study and only 10.5% dropped-out at the follow-up. MI is an important method to achieve behavioural change. A key concept in the MI is the reduction of ambivalence that is associated to change, to encourage patients to choose a healthier life-style (4, 10, 11). A number of patients do not manage to exercise on their own, while other patients are well-motivated and take responsibility for their own health. Some sedentary patients may need more instructions and follow-ups for increasing and maintaining physical activity levels than others. Thus, it is important to offer support and advice, so that they will become compliant to the prescribed physical activity. In addition to conversation about physical activity habits it is important to include eating habits, as an insufficient diet deteriorates the effect of physical activity (10).

Physical activity may be assessed by the use of a questionnaire and also by using special equipment such as pedometer (15). Valid measurements that may reflect a real change in physical activity level are lacking. There are also insufficient long-term follow-ups concerning the effect of training on health on the long view (7). A physical activity referral may not be sufficient to achieve a long-term change of physical activity habits (14). In the large study of FaR® in routine primary health care patients by Leijon et al. nearly one-third (29%) of the followed-up patients (n=5 243) reported that they were still physically inactive at the 3-month follow-up by telephone interview, postal questionnaire or interview at the PHCC (9). Though, our study was smaller the self-reported compliance was good amongst the participants and only 20% reported that they were not compliant at all to the FaR®. Improved aerobic capacity and decreased subjective efforts confirmed the reported compliance in the present study. Thus, it seems that a relatively good compliance may be attained in patients, if both a FaR® prescription, MI, and follow-up measurements such as the use of a diary and aerobic capacity are included.

The number of elderly persons is rapidly increasing in modern society and the elderly often need supervision for adequate physical activity. Professionally balance training, back exercise training, strength training, and walks can improve balance performance, bone health, and also health-related quality of life in the elderly (16-21). The development of osteoporosis and fractures in the population may be slowed down by increased physical activity (22, 23).

Physical activity on referral is one of several methods for promoting physical activity in the population and together with other community-based interventions the effect will probably be enhanced (24).

Acknowledgements