UK Nurses Delivering Physical Activity Advice: What Are the Challenges and Possible Solutions? A Qualitative Study

Anoop Raghavan (), Dane Vishnubala, Adil Iqbal, Ruth Hunter, Katherine Marino, David Eastwood, Camilla Nykjaer and Andy Pringle
Additional contact information
Anoop Raghavan: York City Football Club, York YO32 9AF, UK
Dane Vishnubala: School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
Adil Iqbal: Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust, Huddersfield HD3 3EA, UK
Ruth Hunter: York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, York YO31 8HE, UK
Katherine Marino: Royal Stoke University Hospital, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 6GQ, UK
David Eastwood: School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
Camilla Nykjaer: School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
Andy Pringle: Clinical Exercise and Rehabilitation Research Centre, School of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Derby, Derby DE22 1GB, UK

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 23, 1-16

Abstract: There are a multitude of health benefits gained from regular physical activity (PA). Currently, PA advice implementation from NHS nurses is inadequate despite their ever-increasing role in lifestyle and preventive medicine. By assessing their knowledge of current PA guidance, this study proposed to investigate the issues with regular PA advice being given and expand upon nurses’ proposed barriers and solutions. A qualitative approach using semi structured interviews was undertaken between March and August 2023 involving 13 NHS nurses. Thematic analysis was undertaken using Braun and Clarke’s six step approach. Four themes and fifteen subthemes emerged as barriers and solutions in delivering PA advice. Intrinsic barriers included a lack of nurse knowledge on the topic and PA being seen as an afterthought. Extrinsic barriers included time pressures and a lack of staff engagement. Solutions involved increasing staff awareness of guidelines through teaching, policy, encouraging staff to be active and optimising PA advice delivery through a piecemeal approach and utilising online and visual resources. This study displayed an insight into nurses’ thoughts on their consultations with patients regarding PA, and proposed several barriers and solutions. Further work is needed to improve nurses’ PA knowledge and to assess the proposed strategies to improve its delivery.

Keywords: physical activity; nurses; knowledge; awareness; advice (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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