Exercise prescription knowledge, attitude and practice of health professionals in Kampala district

Abstract

Health professionals have access to a large proportion of the sedentary population and can play a key role in motivating people to become physically more active. The aim of the study was to assess exercise prescription knowledge, attitudes and practices of health professionals in Kampala district towards beneficial and safe exercise participation. Findings of the study revealed that there was limited knowledge about exercise prescription (42.1% of the respondents do not know how to determine age predicted heart rate maximum which is method used to determine one of the key components of exercise (intensity)), the good news were health professionals have a positive attitude towards attending an exercise training program (84% were willing to attend an exercise training program) and irregular practice about exercise prescription by the health professionals (15.2% of health professionals advise 0% of patients).