Physician's Role
In partnership with Health Canada, the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) embarked on a Physical Activity and Health Strategy, "Getting active about physical inactivity!", to help Federal, Provincial and Territorial Ministers reach their goal to reduce physical inactivity among Canadians by 10% by the year 2003. The purpose of the Strategy is to successfully reach family doctors to help them help their patients to build physical activity into their daily lives.
In 1998, the CFPC's President, Dr. Francine Lemire, issued a "Call to Action" encouraging family doctors to incorporate physical activity advice and counselling into their day-to-day practice. A sample copy of the CFPC endorsed Canada's Physical Activity Guide to Healthy Active Living was sent to all members of the College with the November 1998 Issue of CFPC's Journal, Canadian Family Physician.
PACE Canada is one of the interventions used and referred to physicians. Studies indicate that interventions that include written materials for patients, considered behaviour change strategies, and provided training and materials for physicians were effective at increasing levels of physical activity. New strategies that involve measuring and prescribing specific amounts of exercise might also improve fitness levels and hence improve outcomes of chronic disease.
Furthermore, health care providers can play a unique and important role in helping Canadians achieve better health through increased physical activity and better eating habits. Why? First, because physicians are a primary and respected source of health care and information in Canada. Consider that Canadians make in excess of three physician visits each year. Among older Canadians, this figure jumps to over six visits per year. Most older Canadians rely heavily on the care and direction provided by their family physicians to maintain their health and independent living status. Providers, then, are ideally positioned to have ongoing, substantial input into the decisions patients make about their health-related behaviours.
Second, physical inactivity and eating behaviours are modifiable risk factors and as such, are open to change. In their role as trusted health care advisors, physicians can play an important and valuable role in helping patients manage health-related change through the use of behaviour change principles and programs such as PACE Canada. Research has shown that physician encouragement makes a difference: patients often cite physician advice as a reason to increase their level of physical activity (Bungum & Morrow, 2000). A Canadian study also showed increases in the level of physical activity among patients who received physical activity counseling from their physicians (Spink et al, 1999).
As a healthy lifestyle initiative, PACE Canada aims to: 1. provide knowledge to a variety of health professionals who are providing minimal level counseling to inactive people about how to pursue an active healthy lifestyle; and 2. increase the consistency of messages provided to the public about physical activity by using the PACE intervention tools.
The College of Family Physicians has developed a list of ten Do-It-Yourself Tips to become an advocate for active living in your community. For more information, please click here. This site will provide you with a full range of information and support for you to start counseling on physical activity and nutrition.
For a pdf copy of the Physical Activity and Health Module, click here
Please note that by completing the PACE Canada online training or attending one of our PACE Canada workshops, you can apply for the Mainpro-M2 credits and you are eligible for 2 Mainpro-C credits.
