1. BeTheChange The Problem BeTheChange Results of the scheme Conclusion
Steffan Griffin
University of Birmingham, College of Medical and Dental Sciences
The Problem
Non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer are the leading cause of death in the UK¹, with lifestyle factors identified as the main risk factors. These risk factors not only affect people’s health, but the healthcare system that must deal with the increasing demand on its services attributable to these conditions., whose incidence is rising.
One of these risk factors is physical inactivity. With less than 40% of the UK meeting current guidelines and the endemic directly and indirectly costing the NHS in England £8.2 billion annually², it is crucial that the system becomes more proactive, playing an active role in the prevention of these pathologies.
The evidence supporting physical activity as a preventative healthcare tool is very strong (table 1²), and by tackling the inactivity endemic we could dramatically improve both the health of the nation and reduce the demand placed upon the NHS. There is a growing call³ to educate healthcare professionals so that they are able to advocate physical activity in a clinical setting, thus setting the wheels of change in motion, contributing to a healthier society.
Table 1: taken from the Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine’s ‘A Fresh Approach’ document
BeTheChange
Background
With a clear lack of knowledge of both the guidelines and the health benefits of physical activity among medical students nationwide ⁴, BeTheChange was a pilot scheme aiming to increase the advocacy of physical activity as a proactive healthcare tool in its own right.
Education
A seminar was organised in conjunction with the School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences at the university and was heavily publicised through social media, and through lecture ‘shout-outs’. The content covered the guidelines, the various benefits and the psychology of increasing activity levels.
Practical Opportunities
Where some have identified education as the key concept, there is interesting research showing that healthcare professionals that are more active themselves are more likely to advocate physical activity in the clinical setting⁵. After liaising with 3 local fitness centres, a free pass to use their facilities was arranged for the duration of the week, and again publicised in a variety of ways.
Results of the scheme
22 medical students attended the FitnessFirst facility in Stirchley, completing a questionnaire upon registration
Only 5 correctly identified the correct minimum recommended amount, although only one felt that they had received sufficient training in their studies to date
A further 4 students thought they had received sufficient teaching regarding physical activity, although none of these were able to correctly estimate the minimum weekly recommended amount
The seminar was attended by 108 people, and feedback was extremely positive. Disappointingly, only 12 medical students completed the questionnaires attached in the programme but the results were as expected
Only 1 student thought that they had received sufficient training during their studies to confidently advise patients regarding physical activity
100% of respondents felt more likely to advise physical activity to patients following the seminar
Conclusion
Whilst the numbers of medical students that participated in some aspects of the scheme wasn’t as high as hoped, the scheme succeeded in its aims to increase the practice of physical activity within the target group, and also contributed to educating and raising the awareness of physical activity as a proactive healthcare tool among medical students.
Knowledge of the guidelines was low as expected, and the majority did not feel as if they had received sufficient teaching on the matter despite recognising physical inactivity as a major public health issue. 100% of those who attended the seminar felt more likely to advise physical activity in a clinical setting following the event, and with the practical element leading to more becoming aware of the health benefits of physical activity, BeTheChange proved to be a novel and successful scheme to increase the awareness of this crucial public health issue among future healthcare professionals.
References
Global status report on non-communicable diseases Description of the global burden of NCDs, their risk factors and determinants. World Health Organisation. (Accessed 14/08/2014)
Khan K. Ode to Joy: call to action for doctors to play their role in curing the global pandemic of physical inactivity: drilling into one of the ‘7 investments’—simple solutions for the pandemic. Br J Sports Med 2013;47:1 3-4 Published Online First: 12 December 2012 doi: /bjsports
Weiler R, Jones N et al. NHS Sport and Exercise Medicine: A Fresh Approach (Accessed 14/08/2014)
Dunlop M, Murray AD. Major limitations in knowledge of physical activity guidelines among UK medical students revealed: implications for the undergraduate medical curriculum. Br J Sports Med Published Online first: 11 January doi: /bjsports
De Quevedo I, Lobelo F. Abstract P420: Healthcare Providers as Role Models for Physical Activity. CDC, Atlanta, GA. Circulation. 2013; 127: AP (Accessed 14/08/2014)