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Physical activity as a treatment in primary health care. The role of the GP and Somali women’s views and levels of physical activity.

Persson, Gerthi LU (2014) In Lund University Faculty of Medicine Doctoral Dissertation Series 2014:130.
Abstract
Physical inactivity has been identified as the fourth leading risk factor for global mortality and healthcare systems play a major role in increasing physical activity among the population. Physical activity on prescription (PAP) is a non-pharmacological method used in Swedish healthcare to prevent and treat disease. Primary health care is the first level of care, in a strong position to work for increasing physical activity on a primary and secondary level among the population, patients and vulnerable groups. Somali women living in Sweden are vulnerable and susceptible to bad health, due to physical inactivity.

The general aim was to increase the numbers of prescribed PAP, investigate GP´s view and use of PAP and to elucidate... (More)
Physical inactivity has been identified as the fourth leading risk factor for global mortality and healthcare systems play a major role in increasing physical activity among the population. Physical activity on prescription (PAP) is a non-pharmacological method used in Swedish healthcare to prevent and treat disease. Primary health care is the first level of care, in a strong position to work for increasing physical activity on a primary and secondary level among the population, patients and vulnerable groups. Somali women living in Sweden are vulnerable and susceptible to bad health, due to physical inactivity.

The general aim was to increase the numbers of prescribed PAP, investigate GP´s view and use of PAP and to elucidate facilitators and barriers to a physical active lifestyle among Somali women and their actual level of physical activity and inactivity. The thesis comprised four studies with three different designs conducted within primary health care in southern Sweden. The intervention in paper I was to alter routines prescribing PAP. Paper II and III were qualitative focus group studies where GPs views of PAP and Somali women’s views of physical activity were elucidated. In Paper IV Somali women’s physical activity levels were monitored.

We found that an increase of PAP prescribed by GPs was possible when involving a physiotherapist to individualize the prescription. GPs see it as their responsibility to optimize the total use of healthcare resources to ensure the best possible access for those in need of care, and thus prescribing PAP is regarded by GPs as a task with low priority that should involve physiotherapists and nurses in the team. Somali women living in Sweden are a vulnerable group susceptible to non-communicable diseases indicating low levels of physical activity and sedentary behaviours. Life post migration gives little incentive to adopt a physically active lifestyle even though physical activity is considered to be a part of health. This thesis indicates that in order for PAP to become everyday practice among GPs there is a need to create routines involving personnel with knowledge of how to individualize the prescription, preferably a physiotherapist. Somali women living in Sweden need individualized, tailored interventions with respect for Somali traditions to meet global guidelines of physical activity. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
supervisor
opponent
  • Associate Professor Lindgren, Eva-Carin, Faculty of Education, Gothenburg University
organization
publishing date
type
Thesis
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Physical activity, primary health care, PAP, accelerometer, physiotherapy
in
Lund University Faculty of Medicine Doctoral Dissertation Series
volume
2014:130
pages
130 pages
publisher
Lund University, Faculty of Medicine, Family Medicine
defense location
Clinical Research Centre, Jan Waldenströms gata 35, Malmö
defense date
2014-12-11 13:00:00
ISSN
1652-8220
ISBN
978-91-7619-059-3
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
693da18d-0722-4acf-91ce-9d668c1f34fe (old id 4779359)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 13:56:24
date last changed
2019-05-22 04:58:20
@phdthesis{693da18d-0722-4acf-91ce-9d668c1f34fe,
  abstract     = {{Physical inactivity has been identified as the fourth leading risk factor for global mortality and healthcare systems play a major role in increasing physical activity among the population. Physical activity on prescription (PAP) is a non-pharmacological method used in Swedish healthcare to prevent and treat disease. Primary health care is the first level of care, in a strong position to work for increasing physical activity on a primary and secondary level among the population, patients and vulnerable groups. Somali women living in Sweden are vulnerable and susceptible to bad health, due to physical inactivity.<br/><br>
The general aim was to increase the numbers of prescribed PAP, investigate GP´s view and use of PAP and to elucidate facilitators and barriers to a physical active lifestyle among Somali women and their actual level of physical activity and inactivity. The thesis comprised four studies with three different designs conducted within primary health care in southern Sweden. The intervention in paper I was to alter routines prescribing PAP. Paper II and III were qualitative focus group studies where GPs views of PAP and Somali women’s views of physical activity were elucidated. In Paper IV Somali women’s physical activity levels were monitored.<br/><br>
 We found that an increase of PAP prescribed by GPs was possible when involving a physiotherapist to individualize the prescription. GPs see it as their responsibility to optimize the total use of healthcare resources to ensure the best possible access for those in need of care, and thus prescribing PAP is regarded by GPs as a task with low priority that should involve physiotherapists and nurses in the team. Somali women living in Sweden are a vulnerable group susceptible to non-communicable diseases indicating low levels of physical activity and sedentary behaviours. Life post migration gives little incentive to adopt a physically active lifestyle even though physical activity is considered to be a part of health. This thesis indicates that in order for PAP to become everyday practice among GPs there is a need to create routines involving personnel with knowledge of how to individualize the prescription, preferably a physiotherapist. Somali women living in Sweden need individualized, tailored interventions with respect for Somali traditions to meet global guidelines of physical activity.}},
  author       = {{Persson, Gerthi}},
  isbn         = {{978-91-7619-059-3}},
  issn         = {{1652-8220}},
  keywords     = {{Physical activity; primary health care; PAP; accelerometer; physiotherapy}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Lund University, Faculty of Medicine, Family Medicine}},
  school       = {{Lund University}},
  series       = {{Lund University Faculty of Medicine Doctoral Dissertation Series}},
  title        = {{Physical activity as a treatment in primary health care. The role of the GP and Somali women’s views and levels of physical activity.}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/3675630/4779367.pdf}},
  volume       = {{2014:130}},
  year         = {{2014}},
}