While 15 of the responding schools (88.2 percent) reported providing specific PA training to medical students, the actual amount of time spent on PA training was minimal and varied significantly across medical school curriculums.
The longest programs (six years) spent only 12.3 hours on PA training across the entire degree, with less than half of the medical schools (47.6 percent) teaching national strength guidelines in addition to national aerobic guidelines (86.7 percent). Only six schools (42.9 percent) employed specialised instructors to deliver their PA training.
Physical activity remains the most prevalent chronic disease risk factor in Australia, with 85 percent of Australians not meeting current Department of Health endorsed guidelines for aerobic- and strength-promoting physical activity.
There is a plethora of evidence indicating how exercise can be used to treat many chronic and complex health conditions. Yet Medicare data has shown that less than one percent of patients who are overweight or obese or who had type 2 diabetes were referred to an Accredited Exercise Physiologist for treatment.
"Given the relatively high level of Australian medical schools that provide PA training (88.2 percent), it's surprising that only 60 percent of these programs believe their current level of training is adequate," said co-author Anita Hobson-Powell, Chief Executive Officer of ESSA.
"Despite this apparent insufficiency, more than half of the programs (60 percent) reported having no plans to increase PA training in their future curriculums. It is hard to envisage such a situation for other medical disciplines like cardiology or nephrology, especially when considering the majority of PA education is taught by non-specialised instructors.
"Rather than always reaching for the pharmaceutical prescription pad, we should be training our doctors to refer patients to specialist exercise physiologists and encourage healthy lifestyle changes as a form of treatment.
"It should be the responsibility of every medical school to provide effective PA training for their students, and this pre-service training should be standardised nationally to ensure every patient receives adequate wellness and lifestyle advice."
The study was part of an international program evaluating PA training in medical schools, and was a collaboration between the University of Sydney, ESSA, University of Miami, University of Melbourne, and Wake Forest University.
Although 88.2 percent of the surveyed schools reported offering specific physical activity (PA) training to medical students, the duration of PA training was minimal and varied significantly among medical school curriculums.
Even the longest programs (six years) allocated only 12.3 hours to PA training throughout the entire degree. Additionally, less than half of the medical schools (47.6 percent) incorporated national strength guidelines alongside national aerobic guidelines (86.7 percent). Furthermore, only six schools (42.9 percent) had specialized instructors for PA training.
Physical activity remains the predominant chronic disease risk factor in Australia, as 85 percent of Australians do not meet the current Department of Health endorsed guidelines for aerobic and strength-promoting physical activity.
Despite abundant evidence showing the effectiveness of exercise in treating various chronic and complex health conditions, Medicare data revealed that less than one percent of overweight or obese patients, or those with type 2 diabetes, were referred to an Accredited Exercise Physiologist for treatment.
"Although a relatively high percentage of Australian medical schools provide PA training (88.2 percent), it is surprising that only 60 percent of these programs consider their current training level adequate," noted co-author Anita Hobson-Powell, Chief Executive Officer of ESSA.
"Despite this perceived inadequacy, more than half of the programs (60 percent) have no intentions to enhance PA training in their future curriculums. This situation is difficult to imagine in other medical specialties like cardiology or nephrology, particularly given that most PA education is delivered by non-specialized instructors.
"Instead of immediately resorting to prescribing medication, we should be educating our doctors to refer patients to specialized exercise physiologists and promote healthy lifestyle modifications as a form of treatment.
"It is imperative for every medical school to offer comprehensive PA training to their students, and this training should be standardized nationally to ensure that each patient receives adequate wellness and lifestyle guidance."
The research was part of an international initiative evaluating PA training in medical schools, conducted in collaboration with the University of Sydney, ESSA, University of Miami, University of Melbourne, and Wake Forest University.
Comments