The evidence is clear – exercise is medicine for the prevention and management of chronic conditions. Research has shown that a person’s physical activity level is one of the best predictors of health, and yet, many GPs aren’t asking their patients how much they move.
Introducing exercise right for doctors
To help educate doctors and practice nurses as to the importance of exercise for their patients, Exercise Right is once again partnering with Exercise is Medicine® Australia for “Exercise Right for Doctors” week. This campaign was started in 2018, and we’re running it again this year to keep spreading this message.
“Exercise is Medicine® Australia empowers primary healthcare providers to effectively counsel patients about physical activity leading to sustained behaviour change, and promotes evidence based screening to easily identify when and how to refer patients to appropriately trained allied health professionals to deliver exercise treatment services”, says EIM spokesperson, Prof Jeff Coombes.
Doctors need more education about exercise
According to research published in the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, medical students enrolled in a five-year medical degree spend an average of just five hours learning about exercise and physical activity. In addition, less than half (46.7%) of all Australian medical degrees teach future doctors about the National Strength Training Guidelines.
It may come as no surprise then that doctors aren’t spending enough time talking to their patients about their activity levels or referring them to an appropriately qualified professional. One study looking at over 7,000 GPs and over 680,000 patient encounters found that there were less than 619 referrals to exercise physiologists.
So why does that matter?
This is significant because exercise physiologists are the best placed allied health professionals for prescribing exercise to those living with chronic conditions, and currently, approximately half of all Australians are currently living with a chronic health condition.
“Exercise is one of the most powerful tools for preventing and managing chronic disease”, says Jeff. “Our desire is that through advocacy and education, we can encourage health care providers, with a specific focus on doctors and nurses, to review and assess every patient’s physical activity levels at every visit.”
Free education for doctors
Throughout this week, Exercise Right is promoting free accredited education for doctors and nurses offered by EIM® Australia. This free online course has been designed highlight the importance of exercise for overall health and introduces subsequent behaviour-change strategies specific to the adoption of exercise as a regular part of their lifestyle. It also highlights the supporting role of Accredited Exercise Physiologists in assisting patients to establish an exercise program best suited to their needs.
The course takes approximately 2 hours to complete and is also eligible for CPD points with the RACGP, APNA and ACRRM. All campaign resources and education can be access through the our website.
Referring to exercise physiologists
We’re encouraging all GPs to know who their local exercise physiologist is, and to know when it’s appropriate to refer on. You can find an exercise physiologist who is accredited with Exercise & Sports Science Australia by using the search function on their website.
