The journey to a more active lifestyle: A Patient Perspective Qualitative Content Analysis on FaR - the Swedish Concept of Physical Activity on Prescription

Abstract: Background: Physical inactivity is a worldwide public health issue and the fourth leading risk factor for global mortality. As a measure of prevention or treatment several countries have developed concepts of physical activity on prescription (PAP) to tackle the common issue of sedentary behavior and thereby decrease the risk of chronic illness and premature death. The Swedish model of PAP, “Fysisk Aktivitet på Recept” (FaR) is a relatively new concept and does consequently belong to a little explored field in research. Aim: The aim of this study was to describe patients’ experiences and perceptions of FaR and to understand how FaR influenced the processes of changing the patients’ physical activity behavior. Methods: The study was based on 8 semi-structured interviews with patients who had received FaR and the data was analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Findings: Three themes emerged from the data analysis and illustrate patients’ experiences of changing physical activity behavior. Possessing the tools but awaiting an opportunity to make a change illustrates the patients’ awareness of their potential benefits of physical activity although they still waited for another motive to make a change. Completing the puzzle through the missing piece illustrates how FaR influenced the patients to take the first step to a behavioral change. A bumpy road to reach the destination illustrates the difficult journey of changing physical activity behavior that the patients experienced. Conclusion: FaR functions as a final helping-tool to become physically active when patients are already aware of needing to change their physical activity behavior. FaR interacts with other processes that influences the individual such as life events and level of motivation and therefore should not be considered a separate reason for success. However, more research is needed on FaR and its effects on the individual in order to develop FaR and make it more accessible to patients in Swedish health care.