Tips & tools for counselling people on physical activity
Taken from smoking cessation counselling techniques, the 5 A model provides a guide for health care providers to effectively counsel patients on health behaviour changes using brief interventions.
The 5 A's
Ask/Assess - Beliefs, behaviour and knowledge surrounding physical activity
Advise - Provide specific information about the health risks and benefits of becoming more active
Agree - Set a goal together based on your patient's interests
Assist - Address barriers your patients are facing to becoming more active
Arrange - Follow Up
Some ideas depending on how much time you have:
30 seconds - 1 minute
Ask/Assess
Start the conversation by asking patients if they are physically active. If so, how many days, for how long and what activity?
For health benefits adults 18 - 65+ should be achieving
150 minutes of physical activity each week.
For patients who are not ready to be active suggest they watch the 23 ½ hours video (it's only 9.5 minutes) by Dr. Mike Evans. By starting the conversation you can help move them closer to taking action.
Arrange - On their next visit ask if they have been working on becoming more active. Acknowledge even small increases and encourage them to keep going.
3 minutes
Ask/Assess
Start the conversation by asking patients if they are physically active. If so, how many days, for how long and what activity?
For health benefits adults 18 - 65+ should be achieving
150 minutes of physical activity each week.
For patients who are not ready to be active suggest they watch the 23 ½ hours video (it's only 9.5 minutes) by Dr. Mike Evans. By starting the conversation you can help move them closer to taking action.
Advise
Provide specific information about the health risks and benefits of becoming more active.
Encourage them to start with bouts of 10 minutes and work their way up slowly to 150 minutes per week.
Arrange - On their next visit ask if they have been working on becoming more active. Acknowledge even small increases and encourage them to keep going.
5 minutes
Ask/Assess
Start the conversation by asking patients if they are physically active. If so, how many days, for how long and what activity?
For health benefits adults 18 - 65+ should be achieving
150 minutes of physical activity each week.
For patients who are not ready to be active suggest they watch the 23 ½ hours video (it's only 9.5 minutes) by Dr. Mike Evans. By starting the conversation you can help move them closer to taking action.
Advise
Provide specific information about the health risks and benefits of becoming more active.
Encourage them to start with bouts of 10 minutes and work their way up slowly to 150 minutes per week.
Agree - Set a goal together based on patient's interests.
Let a patient know you believe in them and that even small changes matter
For generally healthy adults suggest home based activities such as bike riding or walking or refer to general community resources and programs (ex. - City of Winnipeg, YMCA-YWCA of Winnipeg etc.).
For patients managing chronic diseases, Winnipeg has two Medical Fitness Facilities (Wellness Institute at Seven Oaks and Reh-Fit Centre) with qualified staff and programs available for a variety of chronic conditions.
Assist - Address barriers your patients are facing. Try asking them what challenges they are having.
For time or energy - suggest smaller 10 - 15 minute bouts 1 - 3 times per day
For motivation - get them to identify a support person
or list a few things they like about being active
Arrange - On their next visit ask if they have been working on becoming more active. Acknowledge even small increases and encourage them to keep going.
The Alberta Centre for Active Living has developed a
physical activity toolkit in 6 different languages to help practitioners counsel people on becoming more active
If your patient is...
Thinking about becoming active
Use Tool A - Taking the first steps
Planning on becoming active
Use Tool B - Making a physical activity plan
In the early stages of being active
Use Tool C - Setting goals for physical activity
Active but then relapses
Use Tool D - What stops you from being physically active
Do you work with young parents or families, visit our
With Family page for great tips you can help pass along.