Feasibility and acceptance of exercise recommendations (10,000 steps a day) within routine German health check (Check-Up 35/GOÄ29)—study protocol

Christine Graf, Stefanie Schlepper, Carina Bauer, Nina Ferrari, Stefan Frank, Lena Gartner, Svenja Gehring, Rudolf Henke, Walter Lehmacher, Hans-Michael Steffen, Sabine Schindler-Marlow, Katharina Sternal

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftZeitschriftenaufsätzeForschungBegutachtung

Abstract

Background:
Benefits of exercise to prevent non-communicable diseases are well-documented. Limited data exists
to promote physical activity in healthy but sedentary and/or overweight people. Brief interventions within routine
German health checks may be an effective way to reach these patients.
Methods/design:
The quasi-experimental, multi-center prospective feasibility study is designed for general
practices in Cologne (intervention group) and Düsseldorf (control group), up to 20 per region. Eight to 10 inactive
and/or overweight patients per practice will be recruited for a total of 300. General practitioners and at least one
of their nurses for the intervention group will be trained in motivational interviewing and familiarized with low-
threshold recommendations for exercise (activities of daily life (ADL), target of 10,000 steps/day) and additional
tools (pedometers, activity diaries). Participants in the control group will only receive general advice (150 min of
exercise/week). The primary aims are to evaluate the feasibility of this intervention and to determine whether it is
possible to reach a mean increase of 1000 steps/day in the target group within 6 months. Secondary objectives
focus on the number of patients who reach a target of 10,000 steps/day and their improvements in quality of life
and decrease in body mass index, waist circumference, and blood pressure.
Discussion:
The study will assess whether it is feasible to run brief interventions within the GP setting can promote
an active lifestyle in overweight and/or inactive patients.
Keywords:
Motivational interviewing, Feasibility, Brief intervention, Pedometers, General practitioners, Overweight
Abbreviations:
ADL, Activities of daily life; BMI, Body mass index; CG, Control group; CHD, Coronary heart disease;
GPs, General practitioners; IG, Intervention group; IPAQ, International Physical Activity Questionnaire;
MI, Motivational interviewing
OriginalspracheEnglisch
ZeitschriftPilot and Feasibility Studies
Jahrgang2
Ausgabenummer52
Seitenumfang7
ISSN2055-5784
DOIs
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - 07.09.2016

Zitation