Journal Article Epublish
PubMed: 42121591 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare14091148
Assessing Physicians' Knowledge, Attitudes, Intentions, Abilities, and Behaviour Toward Physical Activity and Exercise in Non-Communicable Diseases: Questionnaire Development Using an e-Delphi and Cross-Sectional Design.
Healthcare (Basel) 14(9)
Authors: Niki Syrou, Ioannis G Fatouros, George S Metsios, Athanasios Z Jamurtas, Dimitrios Draganidis, Konstantinos G Perivoliotis, Athanasios Poulios, Panagiotis Tsimeas, Konstantinos Papanikolaou, Theodore J Angelopoulos, Ioannis Adamopoulos, George Mastorakos
Affiliations
- Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Thessaly, Karies, 42100 Trikala, Greece.
- School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias, 11527 Athens, Greece.
- Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Thessaly, 1C Argonafton, 42132 Trikala, Greece.
- School of Sport, Performing Arts and Leisure, University of Wolverhampton, Wulfruna Street, Wolverhampton WV1 1LY, UK.
- Department of Surgery, General Hospital of Volos, 134 Polymeri, 38222 Volos, Greece.
- Department of Rehabilitation and Movement Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA.
- Department of Public Health Policy, Sector of Occupational & Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of West Attica, 196 Alexandra Avenue, 11521 Athens, Greece.
- Department of Public Health & Policies, School of Social Science, Hellenic Open University, 18 Aristotelous St. 26335 Patras, Greece.
Abstract
Background/Objectives: The multiple benefits of physical activity and exercise (PAE) for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and, thus, for public health underscore the importance of their multidisciplinary implementation in clinical practice. However, there is a lack of validated instruments that comprehensively assess physicians' knowledge, attitudes, intentions, abilities, and behaviour (KAIAB) regarding PAE promotion in NCD management. Methods: This study aimed to develop and validate a new questionnaire to assess physicians' KAIAB towards PAE and to evaluate their KAIAB levels. A two-stage design, including an e-Delphi method and a cross-sectional study, was conducted in Greece from January 2022 to May 2022. Results: In the first stage, after achieving consensus and stability within a purposive sample of 16 physician-experts (response rate 100%), the questionnaire was effectively developed and validated (Content Validity Ratio: 0.5-1) using a two-round e-Delphi method. In the second stage, a cross-sectional study was conducted in two physician populations from 12 medical specialities (response rate: 18.2%) and demonstrated that the new questionnaire had sufficient face validity and high reliability (Cronbach's alpha: 0.805- 0.931). The three original Bloom levels' cut-off points were also used to classify physicians' KAIAB levels in the second stage. KAIAB levels were assessed using median and interquartile range (Mdn/IQR) and were found to be low (13/6), moderate (128/79), high (35/9), moderate (21/8), and moderate (33/8), respectively. Conclusions: The new questionnaire is reliable and valid. It is recommended that the questionnaire be applied in larger studies to further verify its validity and applicability. Additionally, it was found that although physicians reported high intentions and moderately positive attitudes toward PAE promotion, their knowledge in these domains and their exercise prescription practices remained limited. This underscores the need to enhance policies and initiatives in medical education and the healthcare system.
MeSH
Exercise, Chronic Disease, Cross-Sectional Studies, Perception, Noncommunicable Diseases, Physicians, Communicable Diseases