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Table 4 Items from the questionnaire for general practitioners

From: Collaboration of general practitioners and exercise providers in promotion of physical activity a written survey among general practitioners

1. Do you think GPs have a professional role in stimulating physical activity?

â–¡ No

â–¡ Yes, but a limited role

â–¡ Yes, a (very) important role

2. Do you advice your patients sometimes to take more exercise?

â–¡ No, never

â–¡ Yes, when patients ask for advise

â–¡ Yes, to specific groups of patients (such as people with (increased risk for) chronic diseases, e.g. DM)

â–¡ Yes, when relevant for the actual health problem

â–¡ Yes, when relevant for the general health status (irrespective the actual health problem)

3. What are the reasons not to advise patients to take more exercise?

□ I don’t think this is my professional task

□ I don’t think of giving advises

â–¡ Lack of time

â–¡ I have to little knowledge of (more) physical exercise

□ I think it’s inconvenient to start talking about more physical activity

â–¡ I doubt the health effects of physical activity

â–¡ Patients limited motivation for physical activity

â–¡ Patients reduced health status

â–¡ Patients cultural background/family situation/living conditions

□ Other, …..…

4. Do you refer your patients sometimes to take more exercise?

â–¡ No, I give non-committal advice only

â–¡ Yes, to a practice nurse /lifestyle counsellor within the practice

â–¡ Yes, to a life style counsellor outside the practice

â–¡ Yes, to a physical therapist within the practice

â–¡ Yes, to a physical therapist outside the practice

â–¡ Yes, to a local fitness centre in the in the community

â–¡ Yes, to another exercise facility in the in the community (no fitness)

□ Yes, other…..

5. What are reasons for referring patients to a (organized) physical activity or fitness in the community?

â–¡ Inapplicable (I never refer my patients)

â–¡ Patients are more willing to respond to a direct referral

â–¡ It is good to stimulate physical activity outside the health care setting

â–¡ There are good and accessible exercise facilities in the community

â–¡ There is a good cooperation with sports and exercise providers in the community

â–¡ We have good experiences with sports and exercise facilities in the community

â–¡ We do not have enough expertise on physical activity ourselves

□ Other…..

6. What are reasons for not referring patients to a (organized) physical activity or fitness in the community?

â–¡ Patients themselves should find an appropriate exercise facility

â–¡ We prefer to send patients to a PT for physical activity

â–¡ Patients prefer exercising under supervision of the PT

â–¡ Insufficient knowledge of local physical activity facilities

â–¡ Insufficient confidence in local exercise facilities

â–¡ Bad experiences with local physical activity facilities

â–¡ Local exercise facilities are unsafe/

â–¡ Trainers of local exercise facilities lack experiences with our group of patients

â–¡ Community physical activity are to intensive for our patients

â–¡ Patients insufficient financial possibilities to participate in organised physical activity

â–¡ Cultural background/family or living conditions hindering physical activity

□ Other, …

7. What proportion of patients who should exercise more for health reasons is actually referred to (organized) physical activity or fitness in the community?

□ 0 %

□ 1-20 %

□ 21-40 %

□ 41-60 %

□ 61-80 %

□ 81-100 %

8. Are you involved in a formal collaboration or network with other health care providers and/or sport and exercise providers in the community to stimulate physical activity?

â–¡ Yes

â–¡ No

9. Who are involved in this network/collaboration?

â–¡ Collegue GPs

â–¡ Practice nurse

â–¡ Physical therapist

â–¡ Life style counselor

â–¡ Fitnesscentre

â–¡ Leisure centre/welfare organisation/home care

□ Patiënts organisation

â–¡ Local exercise facilities (such as sportclubs, hiking- or cyclingclubs, swimming pools, dancing centres etc.

â–¡ Municipal health organisation

â–¡ Municipality

â–¡ Insurance company

□ Other, ..…..

10. Why is the practice not involved in such a formal collaboration or network to stimulate physical activity?

â–¡ We have no interest in such a collaboration

â–¡ As far as I know there is no formal collaboration or network in the community

â–¡ There is a formal collaboration but this does not function adequately

â–¡ It never occurred to me to participate in such a formal collaboration

□ Other……

11. Would your practice be interested in participating in a formal network with health professionals and sports providers when this was available in the neighborhood?

â–¡ No, we are not interested

â–¡ No, because a lack of time

â–¡ Yes, if there would be a good functioning network

â–¡ Yes, but only if this would be financed

□ Yes, because…..….

12. What would be stimulating factors for your practice to refer more patients to local sports and exercise facilities?

â–¡ None

â–¡ Positive effects for my patients

â–¡ Positive experiences for my patients

â–¡ Introductory information meeting about possibilities to refer to local sports- and exercise facilities

â–¡ Good collaboration with trainers from local sports- and exercise facilities

â–¡ Regular meetings with health care professionals and local sports- and exercise providers

â–¡ Trainers adequately trained (medically/psychologically) in supporting inactive people

â–¡ Specific group programmes for the target population

â–¡ Exchange of information about patients progress between trainers and GPs

â–¡ Website with local sports and exercise facilities

â–¡ Flyers for patients with local sports and exercise facilities

â–¡ Introductory lessons against reduced price

â–¡ Affordable sports- and exercise facilities

â–¡ Reimbursement of physical activity

â–¡ Structural financing of collaboration between GP and local exercise providers

□ Other, ….