Roa-Alcaino S1, Lobos B1, Leppe J1
1Universidad del Desarrollo, Physical Therapy School, Santiago, Chile
Background: The level of "sufficiently active" women during pregnancy is less than 50%. Primary Health Care in Chile does not have a structured system to promote physical activity (PA) during pregnancy.
Purpose: Know the beliefs and perceptions of a group of healthcare professionals about PA during pregnancy. To explore their appraisement about the instrument "Flow chart of prescribing physical activity in pregnant" designed for professional use.
Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the healthcare professionals belongs to a primary care centre (midwifes, nutritionists, physiotherapists and physicians). The transcribed interviews were analyzed following Grounded Theory paradigm and using triangulation process.
Results: Healthcare professionals perceive fear and lack of interest of the pregnant woman to do PA. They mainly believe PA is a means to control the increase in gestational weight and perceive they do not have enough time during prenatal control to advice about it. Some professionals express fear of prescribe PA due to the belief of potential risks in inactive women.
They consider the "flowchart" is understandable, easy to use, it takes few time, and it´s helpful for prescribing PA in pregnant women. They consider there must be training prior to its use and must be available as a poster in each service box.
Conclusion(s): Healthcare professionals associate PA mainly with weight control, there is fear to prescribe PA in all pregnant and consider the “flow chart” as a clinical aid for prescribing AF in Primary Health Care. It is recognized that the professional who must supervise the prescription of physical activity during pregnancy in primary care is the physical therapist.
Implications: The result of this research allows planning the focus of education to health professionals regarding physiotherapist´s role during pregnancy as well as improving the message for the promotion of physical activity in pregnant women in primary care.
Keywords: Pregnancy, women´s health, physical activity
Funding acknowledgements: This research was funded by Universidad del Desarrollo, Physical Therapy School
Purpose: Know the beliefs and perceptions of a group of healthcare professionals about PA during pregnancy. To explore their appraisement about the instrument "Flow chart of prescribing physical activity in pregnant" designed for professional use.
Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the healthcare professionals belongs to a primary care centre (midwifes, nutritionists, physiotherapists and physicians). The transcribed interviews were analyzed following Grounded Theory paradigm and using triangulation process.
Results: Healthcare professionals perceive fear and lack of interest of the pregnant woman to do PA. They mainly believe PA is a means to control the increase in gestational weight and perceive they do not have enough time during prenatal control to advice about it. Some professionals express fear of prescribe PA due to the belief of potential risks in inactive women.
They consider the "flowchart" is understandable, easy to use, it takes few time, and it´s helpful for prescribing PA in pregnant women. They consider there must be training prior to its use and must be available as a poster in each service box.
Conclusion(s): Healthcare professionals associate PA mainly with weight control, there is fear to prescribe PA in all pregnant and consider the “flow chart” as a clinical aid for prescribing AF in Primary Health Care. It is recognized that the professional who must supervise the prescription of physical activity during pregnancy in primary care is the physical therapist.
Implications: The result of this research allows planning the focus of education to health professionals regarding physiotherapist´s role during pregnancy as well as improving the message for the promotion of physical activity in pregnant women in primary care.
Keywords: Pregnancy, women´s health, physical activity
Funding acknowledgements: This research was funded by Universidad del Desarrollo, Physical Therapy School
Topic: Women's & men's pelvic health; Primary health care; Health promotion & wellbeing/healthy ageing
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: Universidad del Desarrollo
Ethics committee: Research Ethics Committee CAS-UDD
Ethics number: 2017-101
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
