Family Physicians Prescribing Physical Activity in Kansas: Frequency, Motivation, and Resources Desired
Ike Abrams, Elizabeth Ablah, Hayrettin Okut, Paul J. Chase, Laurie P. WhitselPurpose
This study aimed to assess how frequently family physicians in Kansas prescribe physical activity (PA), what motivates them to do so, and what resources they deem necessary for effective PA prescription.
Design
A cross-sectional survey was distributed through a preexisting mailing list that physicians had previously signed up for.
Setting
Family medicine practices across the state of Kansas.
Participants
Of the 393 physicians contacted, 66 initiated the survey and 62 completed it, yielding a 16% response rate.
Measures
The survey assessed PA prescription frequency and methods, and the importance of various resources (eg, community programs, insurance coverage, current procedural terminology (CPT) codes).
Analysis
Descriptive statistics and inferential tests (likelihood ratio chi-square, Fisher’s exact) were conducted. Bonferroni and False Discovery Rate corrections addressed multiple comparisons. Significance was set at
Results
Of the 62 physicians who completed the survey, 95% (n = 59) reported assessing patients’ PA levels; among all 66 physicians who began the survey, 95% (n = 63) reported prescribing at least one form of PA. Most common methods for assessing and prescribing PA included: conversation (83%), recommendation (73%), and referral to programs (38%); only 5% wrote formal prescriptions. Community program availability was very important to 48% and insurance coverage was very important to 21%. Electronic referrals and CPT codes were minimally important to most.
Conclusion
Although reported PA prescription is common, written prescriptions are uncommon. Community-based, evidence-supported programs and insurance coverage are key motivators. Given the low response rate, findings likely reflect a self-selected group of respondents rather than family physicians in Kansas broadly. Limited sample size and potential question ambiguity limit generalizability.