This site has been developed as one of a range of strategies in Queensland, to increase health professionals' knowledge and use of the National Physical Activity Guidelines for Adults and for Children and Young People.
The Guidelines were developed in mid-1999 and to date they have not been comprehensively promoted in Queensland. The Guidelines aim to provide achievable physical activity goals, that will result in a health benefit, for all Australians.
The results of a large health staff survey conducted in Brisbane in mid-2001 identified that there is a need to increase the knowledge and use of the National Physical Activity Guidelines for Adults and for Children and Young People among health professionals. While a wide range of professionals currently provide physical activity information to their clients, they are not aware of or use the Guidelines.
In September 2001 a survey of 602 health professionals from a wide range of health disciplines (64% hospital, 25% community health), in five Queensland Health Service Districts, showed that:
With regard to the National Physical Activity Guidelines for Adults and for Children and Young People:
These results clearly indicate that many health professionals who currently provide physical activity information for clients, do not know or use the National Physical Activity Guidelines for Adults and for Children and Young People. This suggests that there are gaps in staff capacity to deliver evidence-based, consistent messages that will assist the community to become more physically active.
A copy of this survey report is available from the Brisbane Southside Public Health Unit. Click here for contact details.
Note. Queensland Health recommends that clients consult with a medical practitioner prior to following these physical activity guidelines, particularly where they have been previously inactive, have heart disease or close relatives with heart disease, are pregnant or have other major health problems.
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