ArticleHealth education journal2015
Health professionals' perspectives on exercise referral and physical activity promotion in primary care: Findings from a process evaluation of the National Exercise Referral Scheme in Wales.
Article in Health education journal, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 41 papers, 5 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
41 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 95 citations in OpenAlex.
- Barriers and Facilitators to the Delivery of Physical Activity Promotion by Healthcare Professionals for Adults With Type 2 Diabetes: A Mixed-Methods Systematic Review Using the Theoretical Domains Framework.Journal of diabetes research · 2026Pooled it
- Health care professionals' attitudes, behaviours and barriers toward exercise promotion among patients: A systematic review.PloS one · 2025Pooled it
- Acceptability of policies targeting dietary behaviours and physical activity: a systematic review of tools and outcomes.European journal of public health · 2022Pooled it
- Physical Activity Promotion: A Systematic Review of The Perceptions of Healthcare Professionals.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2020Pooled it
- Barriers and Facilitators Perceived by Primary Healthcare Professionals About Physical Activity Prescription, a Meta-Ethnography.Public health nursing (Boston, Mass.)Pooled it
- From a research trial to routine practice: stakeholders' perceptions and experiences of referrals to the National Exercise Referral Scheme (NERS) in Wales.BMC health services research · 2021Trial
- Patterning in Patient Referral to and Uptake of a National Exercise Referral Scheme (NERS) in Wales From 2008 to 2017: A Data Linkage Study.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2020Trial
- Acceptability and Feasibility of Implementing Accelorometry-Based Activity Monitors and a Linked Web Portal in an Exercise Referral Scheme: Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial.Journal of medical Internet research · 2019Trial
- Harms and Negative or Unintended Consequences of Social Prescribing: A Scoping Review.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Factors associated with programme completion and physical activity adherence in a community-based cancer exercise programme.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026Article
- General practitioners' educational and training needs and requirements for advising patients with coronary heart disease on physical activity: findings from a qualitative study in Germany.BMC primary care · 2025Article
- Experiences, perceptions and attitudes on providing advice on physical activity to patients with chronic ischaemic heart disease: a qualitative study in general practitioners in Germany.Family medicine and community health · 2025Article
- An evaluation of a community-based intervention in England aiming to reduce inequalities in exercise participation.Frontiers in sports and active living · 2025Article
- GPs' perspectives on care models integrating medical and non-medical services in primary care-a representative survey in Germany.BMC primary care · 2024Article
- Critical perspectives on Arts on Prescription.Perspectives in public health · 2024Review
- Physical Activity Knowledge and Personal Habits with Recommendations for Patients: Self-Assessment by Primary Care Physicians.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Article
- Article
- A movement for movement: an exploratory study of primary healthcare professionals' perspectives on implementing the Royal College of General Practitioners' active practice charter initiative.BMC primary care · 2024Article
- GP specialty trainees' knowledge and values towards physical activity: a national survey of Scottish trainees.BJGP open · 2024Article
- Physical activity on prescription in Swedish primary care: a survey on use, views, and implementation determinants amongst general practitioners.Scandinavian journal of primary health care · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND
objectivesReferring clinicians' experiences of exercise referral schemes (ERS) can provide valuable insights into their uptake. However, most qualitative studies focus on patient views only. This paper explores health professionals' perceptions of their role in promoting physical activity and experiences of a National Exercise Referral Scheme (NERS) in Wales.
designQualitative semi-structured group interviews.
settingGeneral practice premises.
methodsNine semi-structured group interviews involving 46 health professionals were conducted on general practice premises in six local health board areas. Purposive sampling taking into account area deprivation, practice size and referral rates was employed. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using the Framework method of thematic analysis.
resultsHealth professionals described physical activity promotion as important, although many thought it was outside of their expertise and remit, and less important than other health promotion activities such as smoking cessation. Professionals linked decisions on whether to advise physical activity to patients to their own physical activity levels and to subjective judgements of patient motivation. While some described ERS as a holistic alternative to medication, with potential social benefits, others expressed concerns regarding their limited reach and potential to exacerbate inequalities. Barriers to referral included geographic isolation and uncertainties about patient selection criteria, medico-legal responsibilities and a lack of feedback about patient progress.
conclusionClinicians' concerns about expertise, priority setting and time constraints should be addressed to enhance physical activity promotion in primary care. Further research is needed to fully understand decision making relating to provision of physical activity advice and use of ERS.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.