Seven tips for encouraging your patients to exercise
FPM Editors
January 25, 2019
Although many patients would benefit from increased physical activity, discussing exercise is often not a priority for patients or their family physicians. Family physicians can play an influential role in encouraging patients to exercise, and the new year can be a good time to have these conversations. Here are seven tips for developing personalized physical activity prescriptions:
- Help the patient recognize the personal benefits of physical activity.
- Consider the patient’s experiences, strengths, values, and goals.
- Identify barriers to physical activity and how to overcome them.
- Set small, achievable goals.
- Help build the patient’s confidence to attempt his or her chosen activity.
- Encourage the patient to log his or her activity and bring those logs to follow-up appointments for further discussion and coaching.
- Put the prescription in writing.
Read the full FPM article: “Encouraging Health Behavior Change: Eight Evidence-Based Strategies.”
Posted on Jan 25, 2019 by FPM Editors