چکیده (انگلیسی):

Background:Many adults are insufficiently physically active for health. Counselling is the main method to promote
physical activity (PA) in primary care but often implemented inadequately. The aim of this study was to increase
health professionals’ i) know-how about health-related PA and PA counselling, ii) implementation and quality of PA
counselling, iii) familiarity with and use of Physical Activity Prescription (PAP), iv) internal and external collaboration
and v) use of electronic patient record system in PA counselling.
Methods:Four Finnish health centres participated. Each nominated a working group for reaching the goals through
a 6-month development work, which was supported with monthly tutorials by the research group. The outcome
evaluation of the development work included 19 variables, which reflected the five goals and were assessed before
(baseline) and after the development work (follow-up). Variable-specific differences in proportions (%) and their 95 %
confidence intervals (CI) between the time points indicated change. The measures were questionnaires to the health
professionals (N=75at baselineandN= 80 at follow-up) and patients (N= 441 andN= 431), professionals’ record
sheets on patient visits (N = 1008 andN= 1000), and telephone interviews to external partners (N=48andN=28).
The process was evaluated with the extent the working group members participated in the development work and
with the implementation of development actions. Assessment was based on meeting minutes of tutorials and working
group meetings.
Results:Health professionals’ familiarity with PAP (questionnaire, change 39 %-points; 95 % CI 26.5 to 52.5) and use
of PAP (questionnaire, 32 %-points; 95 % CI 18.9 to 45.1 and record sheet, 4 %-points; 95 % CI 2.7 to 5.3) increased.
A greater proportion of professionals had agreed in their working unit on using PAP (questionnaire, 32 %-points; 95 % CI
20.3 to 43.7) and used PAP as a referral to other health professionals (record sheet, 1 %-point; 95 % CI 0.3 to 1.7). Also the
know-how of PA and PA counselling showed improvement but not statistically significantly. The working group members
participated unevenly in the development work and had difficulties in allocating time for the work. This was seen in
limited number of actions implemented.
Conclusions:The study was able to achieve some improvements inthe familiarity with and use of PAP and to lesser
extent in the know-how of health-related PA and PA counselling. To observe changes in other goals, which targeted
more at organisational, inter-professional and multi-sectorial level, may have required more long-term actions.