A tailored skills training programme for professionals in primary health care to increase prescriptions of physical activity on prescription, FaR

Abstract: ABSTRACT Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate and study the effects of a tailored behavioural skills intervention on the amount of FaR® prescribed, and to describe self-efficacy over time for prescribing FaR® in participants from primary health care units. Method: A quasi-experimental single-case design with multiple–baseline across time and settings was used. Each baseline had an ABC design, baseline (A), intervention (B) and post-intervention (C). The intervention was introduced across two different PHCUs at different times. It was seven participants included. Primary outcome measurements were repeatedly collected for participants in settings. The method was based on behavioural medicine principles. Key concepts from SCT theory was used in the intervention. Result: The result seemed to demonstrate an effect on the prescribing behaviour in terms of a slightly increased amount of prescribed FaR® during the intervention phase, even though not for all participants. It was no or short latency for the changed behaviour during intervention. Adopted behaviour was not maintained in the post-intervention phase. Self-efficacy for prescribing FaR® varied. The variation of overall self-efficacy between baseline and post-intervention was from -10% to 81%. Conclusion: This study indicated that a tailored skills training programme might have the potential to change the prescribing behaviour among professionals in primary health care. An intervention lasting for eleven weeks seemed not enough to maintain the achieved performance. No conclusion could be done on self-efficacy. Keywords: Quasi-experimental single-case design, physical activity on prescription FaR®, behavioural medicine, implementation, primary care.