General practitioners’ views on the role of pedometers in health promotion

Asmita Patel; Gregory S Kolt; Grant M Schofield; Justin W L Keogh

doi:10.1071/hc14152

Back

General practitioners’ views on the role of pedometers in health promotion

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

General practitioners’ views on the role of pedometers in health promotion

Asmita Patel, Gregory S Kolt, Grant M Schofield and Justin W L Keogh

Journal of Primary Health Care, Vol.6(2), pp.152-156

2014

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1071/hc14152

Files and links (2)

pdf

PDF - Published Version (Open Access)132.06 kBDownload View

Published VersionPDF - Published Version (Open Access) Open Access

url

https://doi.org/10.1071/hc14152View

Published Version

Abstract

Public Health and Health Services

Nursing

Health Promotion

general practitioners

sedentary lifestyle

walking

INTRODUCTION: Regular pedometer use can help initiate and maintain regular walking activity that can lead to a number of health-related benefits. The primary health care setting has been found to be an ideal venue in which to counsel low-active individuals for physical activity. AIM: To examine general practitioners' (GPs) views on the role of pedometers in health promotion. METHODS: Fifteen GPs working in urban, primary care practices in Auckland, New Zealand wereindividually interviewed. The interview schedule focused on physical activity counselling and the Green Prescription programme. For this sub-study, the focus was on questions relating to pedometer use. An inductive thematic approach was used to analyse the data. FINDINGS: Four main themes were identified. Pedometers were viewed as motivational devices that could be used to encourage low-active patients to become more active, as they provided feedback on step counts. A pedometer was also viewed as a self-management tool, whereby the individual could set daily step count goals, which in turn could help increase their physical activity engagement. GPs who currently wore a pedometer discussed the practicalities of being able to show a patient how to use a pedometer. Also discussed was how cost could restrict pedometer access for some patients. CONCLUSIONS: Pedometers were viewed by GPs as being helpful devices that could help motivate and support low-active patients in becoming more active. Information regarding step counts was seen as important because it could make people aware how little physical activity they were engaging in.

Details

Title: General practitioners’ views on the role of pedometers in health promotion
Authors: Asmita Patel (Author) - AUT University, New Zealand
Gregory S Kolt (Author) - University of Western Sydney
Grant M Schofield (Author) - AUT University, New Zealand
Justin W L Keogh (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Publication details: Journal of Primary Health Care, Vol.6(2), pp.152-156
Publisher: Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners
Date published: 2014
DOI: 10.1071/hc14152
ISSN: 1172-6164
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99449076802621
Output Type: Journal article

Metrics

114 File views/ downloads

691 Record Views