Full text

Turn on search term navigation

© 2025 Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2025. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ Group. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ This is an open access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited, appropriate credit is given, any changes made indicated, and the use is non-commercial. See:  http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ . Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.

Abstract

Objectives

This study explored general practitioners’ (GPs) understanding of physical activity advocacy to patients and their own self-care, how GPs perceive their own physical activity behaviours, how their personal experience of physical activity affects how they promote it in practice and how they define the limitations of their role in this.

Design

A qualitative design, involving online semi-structured interviews, was employed. Data was analysed by an interdisciplinary team of researchers using an inductive thematic approach.

Setting and participants

Participants were GPs (n=21) and were recruited from an education and research network.

Findings

A single meta-theme was identified—moving towards more physically active lifestyles through the art of medicine—with three related subthemes. Subthemes relate to how GPs determine the extent of their role and responsibilities, how physical activity promotion is adapted to the context and how ‘what I’ say is not necessarily ‘what I do’. After many consultations, mutual trust can develop when the GP’s role is clarified, and the GP can educate and support the initiation and maintenance of physical activity behavioural change by sharing personal experiences of physical activity behaviour.

Conclusion

Based on personal experience and enduring relationships with their patients, GPs are in a unique position to discuss appropriate physical activity with their patients and perform an important role in explaining and gaining access to physical activity for their patients. Support in the form of community-based resources and programmes as well as brief intervention skills could enhance GP ability to further promote physical activity.

Details

Title
How do doctors manage physical activity advocacy for patients and their own self-care? A qualitative interview study of general practitioners in Ireland
Author
Baky, Ibak 1 ; Bourke, Alison 1 ; Byrne, Conor 1 ; MacDonagh, Joe 2 ; Clifford, Amanda 3 ; Niranjan, Vikram 4 ; O'Regan, Andrew 5   VIAFID ORCID Logo 

 School of Medicine, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland 
 Technological University Dublin, Dublin, Ireland 
 School of Allied Health, Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland 
 Department of Public Health, Health Service Executive, Dublin, Ireland; Assistant professor of Public Health, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland 
 School of Medicine, Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland 
First page
e084301
Section
General practice / Family practice
Publication year
2025
Publication date
2025
Publisher
BMJ Publishing Group LTD
e-ISSN
20446055
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
3163035497
Copyright
© 2025 Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2025. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ Group. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ This is an open access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited, appropriate credit is given, any changes made indicated, and the use is non-commercial. See:  http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ . Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.