ERIC Number: EJ1247344
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2020-Apr
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0017-8969
EISSN: N/A
Exploring Cardiologists' and Oncologists' Exercise Recommendation and Referral Practices
Leach, Heather J.; LeBreton, Kelli A.; Wurz, Amanda J.; Pergolotti, Mackenzi; Braun, Barry; Schuster, Steven R.; Green, Patrick
Health Education Journal, v79 n3 p266-276 Apr 2020
Objective: Exercise is beneficial for individuals who have been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease or cancer. Healthcare providers are well placed to discuss exercise with their patients, but their referral practices and the content of exercise recommendations remain unclear. Method: Cardiologists and oncologists completed an online survey comprising four closed-ended questions and one open-ended question to assess exercise recommendation and referral practices. Chi-square tests were used to compare the frequency of closed-ended responses, and open-ended responses were coded and analysed using qualitative content analysis. Results: Of the 154 surveys, 58 were returned (n = 25; 43.1% cardiologists, and n = 33; 56.9% oncologists). Respondents (M[subscript age] = 45.5 ± 11.1) were mostly men (62.1%). The majority of cardiologists (95.8%) and oncologists (78.1%) reported referring patients to hospital-based exercise programmes. In this study, the cardiologists were more likely to refer patients to certified exercise physiologists (X[superscript 2](1) = 6.140, p = 0.021), whereas oncologists were more likely to refer to physical therapists (X[superscript 2](1) = 11.764, p = 0.001). Conclusion: Findings reveal that cardiologists and oncologists discussed and recommended exercise to their patients at least some or most of the time; there were differences in the type of exercise professionals they were referred to; and exercise recommendations were variable and infrequently concurred with established guidelines.
Descriptors: Medicine, Physicians, Cancer, Heart Disorders, Exercise, Referral, Hospitals, Community Programs, Rehabilitation, Physical Therapy, Trainers, Exercise Physiology
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Colorado
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A