FEATURE: EXERCISE IS MEDICINE EXERCISE IS MEDICINE It should also be noted that a patient’s found that guidelines, although providing Exercise is Medicine® Australia (EIM) is receptiveness to an enquiry regarding a plethora of information, did not offer a global initiative, managed in Australia physical activity may vary depending on clear, concise, practical advice on how by Exercise & Sports Science Australia the reason for their presentation to the GPs should manage their patients (ESSA), with advisory council members GP. As such, it is important for the (Beattie, 2017). However, research representing Sports Medicine Australia practitioner to be able to link their demonstrates that patients respond (SMA), the Australasian College of Sport physical activity assessment to the positively to exercise advice from their GP and Exercise Physicians (ACSEP), the presenting condition of the patient (Beattie, 2017) and educational Australian Primary Health Care Nurses (Tam et al, 2016). workshops for doctors are successful in Association (APNA), the Australian enabling them to increase their written Physiotherapy Association (APA), the Undergraduate medical prescriptions for physical activity and Department of Health, GPs and exercise programs provide an referral of patients (Windt, 2015). professionals/researchers. average of between 6.6 and 12.3 hours of Additionally, primary health care nurses EIM is focused on encouraging primary physical activity have an important role to play in chronic healthcare providers to treat physical training, respectively, disease prevention and management with activity as a vital sign by reviewing and across their entire a key role in early intervention and assessing everypatient’s physical activity curriculum (Strong, structured management for chronic levels at every visit. Patients should be 2017). A review of disease prevention. However, a recent counselled on physical activity and guidelines for survey of Australian nurses indicated that provided with an exercise prescription managing patients although they did perceive that physical or referral to an appropriately qualified in general practice activity promotion is part of their role, exercise professional. few have specific knowledge of physical activity guidelines. Knowledge and To address these issues, EIM provides understanding of the guidelines doubled further education, training and resources the odds of encouraging physical activity to GPs and practice nurses about the role in patients (Freene, 2017). of physical activity in the prevention and management of chronic disease and Empowering GPs and nurses with the advocates for multidisciplinary care. knowledge and skills to integrate physical activity and exercise into In 2017/2018, with funding from the part of standard chronic disease Department of Health, EIM rolled out prevention and management has the 32 EIM workshops to over 500 health potential to reach large groups of professionals across the Primary Health the community, increase community Networks. The workshops are designed physical activity levels and reduce to educate GPs and practice nurses on healthcare costs. the importance of exercise and referrals. 20 VOLUME 36 • ISSUE 2 2018 anihzuylaKannI/segamiytteg