Patient Perception, Preference and Participation The influence of primary health care professionals in encouraging exercise and physical activity uptake among White and South Asian older adults: Experiences of young older adults Maria Horne a, *, Dawn Skelton b,1 , Shaun Speed a,2 , Chris Todd a,3 a The University of Manchester, Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, Manchester, M13 9PL, England, UK b Glasgow Caledonian University, HealthQuest, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, Glasgow, G4 0HB, Scotland, UK 1. Introduction Physical inactivity is a major public health problem. Regular physical activity confers many substantial health benefits for older adults [1] and is a key determinant of good health. However 40% of over 50 s in the UK report less physical activity than is recommended [2]. Among 55–64-year olds, 32% of men and 21% of women reach current physical activity recommendations [3]. Sedentary behaviour is even more common among South Asians [4] and may contribute to their increased risk of coronary heart disease and stroke mortality, as well as a greater prevalence of diabetes [3]. The National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE), a UK independent organisation responsible for providing national gui- dance on promoting good health and preventing and treating ill health, recommends that primary health care practitioners should take the opportunity, whenever possible, to identify inactive adults and advise them to aim for 30 min of moderate activity on 5 or more days of the week [5]. Primary health care professionals are considered ideally placed to influence levels of activity in older people because of their access and contact with members of the general population [6]. In particular, General Practitioner (GP) counselling has been identified as a motivator to initiate activity among older adults [7] and is effective in increasing physical activity in the short term [8]. Hence, health professionals can be effective advocates of physical activity. The idea that GPs could take a greater role in initiating the referral process for a variety of conditions has long been recognized Patient Education and Counseling 78 (2010) 97–103 ARTICLE INFO Article history: Received 17 November 2008 Received in revised form 23 March 2009 Accepted 4 April 2009 Keywords: Exercise Physical activity Older adults White/South Asian Primary health care Qualitative research ABSTRACT Objective: To explore the influence of primary health care professionals in increasing exercise and physical activity among 60–70-year-old White and South Asian community dwellers. Method: Fifteen focus groups and 40 in-depth interviews with community dwelling White and South Asian 60–70-year olds. The sample was selected to include people with very different experiences of participation and non-participation in exercise and physical activity. Data were analysed using framework analysis. Results: Primary health care professionals’ advice and support was found to be a motivator to the initiation of exercise and physical activity. However, this was usually in relation to advice on weight reduction, cardiac conditions and mobility issues, but not generally to improve or increase activity levels. An underlying attitude of genuine interest and empathy was valued and shaped decisions about initiating and/or increasing activity levels. Conclusion: Primary health care professionals should be encouraged to show interest and empathy with older people about the positive benefits of exercise and physical activity to them individually. This advice needs to be tailored to the older adult’s symptoms. Practice implications: Primary health care professionals need to be able to provide specific advice as to the quantity (frequency, duration, intensity and type) of exercise or physical activity to undertake. Practitioners need to listen to their patients’ needs, show empathy and avoid ageism during consultations. ß 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. * Corresponding author at: School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, The University of Manchester, Jean McFarlane Building University Place, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK. Tel.: +44 0161 306 7680; fax: +44 0161 306 7707. E-mail addresses: maria.horne@machester.ac.uk (M. Horne), dawn.skelton@gcal.ac.uk (D. Skelton), shaun.speed@manchester.ac.uk (S. Speed), chris.todd@manchester.ac.uk (C. Todd). 1 Tel.: +44 0141 331 8792/07976 538809; fax: +44 0208 998 7672. 2 Tel.: +44 0161 306 7694; fax: +44 0161 306 7707. 3 Tel.: +44 0161 306 7865; fax: +44 0161 306 7707. Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Patient Education and Counseling journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/pateducou 0738-3991/$ – see front matter ß 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.pec.2009.04.004