eS118 WCPT Congress 2015 / Physiotherapy 2015; Volume 101, Supplement 1 eS26–eS426 Ethics approval: This research study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Tennessee State University, Nashville TN, USA (protocol number #HS2014-3388). http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.physio.2015.03.256 Research Report Poster Presentation Number: RR-PO-18-18-Sun Sunday 3 May 2015 13:00 Exhibit halls 401–403 A DESCRIPTIVE ANALYSIS OF SITTING IN THE PRIMARY CARE POPULATION E. Barrett 1 , J. Hussey 1 , C. Darker 2 1 Trinity College Dublin, Discipline of Physiotherapy, Dublin, Ireland; 2 Trinity College Dublin, Public Health and Primary Care, Dublin, Ireland Background: There is a growing body of evidence to suggest that sedentary behaviour is a distinct risk factor, independent of physical activity, for multiple adverse health outcomes. Other than prevalence estimates, there is almost no research providing a descriptive analysis of sitting time or sedentary behaviour in the Irish population. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the prevalence and patterns of sitting time in an Irish primary care population. A secondary objective was to determine whether there was an association between sitting time and physical activity. Methods: Computer generated, stratified random sam- pling was used to identify three primary care centres from which the sample was drawn. Stratification was based on the urban/rural location of the centre and a national measure of deprivation. The short version International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was used to collect data on the week- day sitting time of participants and to determine their physical activity level. Weekday sitting time was compared by gen- der, age group, educational attainment, and primary care location. Results: Data was collected from a total of 885 adult par- ticipants between the ages of 18 and 69. The median weekday sitting time for all participants was 240 (IQR 150–480) min- utes per day which is equivalent to four hours sitting a day. Overall 20.6% (n = 179) of all participants reported sitting for less than two hours a day and 15.2% (n = 133) reported sitting for more than eight hours. Males reported significantly higher sitting times than females (M: median 360, IQR 187–480; F: median 240, IQR 120–420) (p < 0.001). There were signifi- cant differences in the sitting times of participants attending the three different primary care locations with the urban non deprived group reporting the highest sitting time (median 345, IQR 180–480) and the rural group reporting the least sitting (median 180, IQR 120–360) (p < 0.001). Age and education were not associated with sitting time. There was a weak, neg- ative correlation between sitting time and physical activity indicating that as people became more active, the less time they spent in sitting (r = -0.069, p = 0.05). Conclusion(s): This study demonstrates the high sitting times reported by many of the primary care population. There are emerging patterns highlighting particular groups that are at increased risk from sedentary behaviour. Implications: In addition to physical activity promotion, physiotherapists should use every opportunity to screen and address sedentary time in their patients, as a distinct and independent risk factor for chronic disease. Keywords: Sedentary behaviour; Primary care; Popula- tion health Funding acknowledgements: Unfunded. Ethics approval: Ethics approval for this research was granted by the Research Committee of St James’s and Tal- laght Hospitals, Dublin, Ireland. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.physio.2015.03.257 Research Report Platform Rapid 5 Presentation Number: RR-PLR5-3615 Sunday 3 May 2015 10:45 Room 324–326 HOW PHYSICALLY ACTIVE ARE PRIMARY CARE PATIENTS? E. Barrett 1 , C. Darker 2 , J. Hussey 1 1 Trinity College Dublin, Discipline of Physiotherapy, Dublin, Ireland; 2 Trinity College Dublin, Public Health and Primary Care, Dublin, Ireland Background: Physical inactivity is one of the most com- mon and persistent risk factors contributing to poor health throughout the world. There is accumulating evidence that certain interventions delivered in primary care are effective at increasing physical activity levels. In order to direct and target these interventions appropriately it is necessary to have accurate surveillance data from the primary care population. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the prevalence and patterns of physical activity in an Irish pri- mary care population. Methods: Computer generated, stratified random sam- pling was used to identify three primary care centres from which the sample was drawn. Stratification was based on the urban/rural location of the centre and a national mea- sure of deprivation. The short version International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was used to collect data on the physical activity undertaken by participants in the pre- vious seven days. A standardised scoring protocol was used to classify participants into low, moderate and high levels of physical activity. Physical activity was compared by gender, age group, educational attainment and primary care location. Results: Data was collected from a total of 885 par- ticipants between the ages of 18 and 69. Overall 47.2% (n = 418) of all participants were classified within the low