Physical Activity Promotion Tools in the Portuguese Primary Health Care: An Implementation Research

Romeu Mendes, Marlene Nunes Silva, Catarina Santos Silva, Adilson Marques, Cristina Godinho, Rita Tomás, Marcos Agostinho, Sara Madeira, Alexandre Rebelo-Marques, Henrique Martins, Pedro J. Teixeira and Diogo Cruz
Additional contact information
Romeu Mendes: Programa Nacional para a Promoção da Atividade Física, Direção-Geral da Saúde, 1049-005 Lisboa, Portugal
Marlene Nunes Silva: Programa Nacional para a Promoção da Atividade Física, Direção-Geral da Saúde, 1049-005 Lisboa, Portugal
Catarina Santos Silva: Programa Nacional para a Promoção da Atividade Física, Direção-Geral da Saúde, 1049-005 Lisboa, Portugal
Adilson Marques: Programa Nacional para a Promoção da Atividade Física, Direção-Geral da Saúde, 1049-005 Lisboa, Portugal
Cristina Godinho: Programa Nacional para a Promoção da Atividade Física, Direção-Geral da Saúde, 1049-005 Lisboa, Portugal
Rita Tomás: Programa Nacional para a Promoção da Atividade Física, Direção-Geral da Saúde, 1049-005 Lisboa, Portugal
Marcos Agostinho: Programa Nacional para a Promoção da Atividade Física, Direção-Geral da Saúde, 1049-005 Lisboa, Portugal
Sara Madeira: Programa Nacional para a Promoção da Atividade Física, Direção-Geral da Saúde, 1049-005 Lisboa, Portugal
Alexandre Rebelo-Marques: Programa Nacional para a Promoção da Atividade Física, Direção-Geral da Saúde, 1049-005 Lisboa, Portugal
Henrique Martins: SPMS—Serviços Partilhados do Ministério da Saúde, 1050-099 Lisboa, Portugal
Pedro J. Teixeira: Programa Nacional para a Promoção da Atividade Física, Direção-Geral da Saúde, 1049-005 Lisboa, Portugal
Diogo Cruz: Programa Nacional para a Promoção da Atividade Física, Direção-Geral da Saúde, 1049-005 Lisboa, Portugal

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 3, 1-11

Abstract: Background: This paper aims to discuss how physical activity (PA) brief assessment, brief counseling, and self-monitoring tools were designed and implemented in the Portuguese National Health Service (NHS), and to report on their current use by health professionals and citizens. Methods: Three digital tools to facilitate PA promotion in primary health care (PHC) were developed: 1) a PA brief assessment tool was incorporated in the electronic health record platform “SClínico Cuidados de Saúde Primários“; 2) a brief counseling tool was developed in the software “PEM—Prescrição Eletrónica Médica” (electronic medical prescription); and 3) a “Physical Activity Card” was incorporated in an official NHS smartphone app called “MySNS Carteira”. Results: From September 2017 to June 2019, 119,386 Portuguese patients had their PA assessed in PHC. Between December 2017 and June 2019, a total of 7957 patients received brief intervention for PA by a medical doctor. Regarding the app “MySNS Carteira”, 93,320 users activated the “Physical Activity Card”, between February 2018 and December 2018. Conclusions: These tools represent key actions to promote PA among Portuguese citizens using PHC as a priority setting. Further initiatives will follow, including proper assessment of their clinical impact and training programs for health care professionals on PA promotion.

Keywords: physical activity; exercise; primary health care; brief assessment; brief counseling; monitoring (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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