The relationship between direct care providers' physical activity behaviour and perceived physical activity needs for people with intellectual disabilities.
C Kreinbucher-Bekerle, C Melville, J S G Wells and 1 others
PMID 35698301WHAT IT FOUND
Direct care providers who were more physically active themselves recommended more activity to people with intellectual disabilities, but most still advised less than guidelines suggest.
Time constraints and health concerns were the main barriers to promotion.
Key findings
01Providers who recommended 150+ minutes of activity per week were significantly more physically active themselves than those who recommended less.
02There was a positive correlation between a provider's own physical activity and the amount they recommended to clients.
03Time restrictions and lack of staff were the most frequently cited barriers to recommending physical activity.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The sample was not representative; 77.9% of providers met physical activity guidelines, which is much higher than the general Austrian population (47%). Physical activity was self-reported, which can lead to overestimation. The study did not collect data on the specific client groups the providers worked with. The cross-sectional design cannot prove that a provider's own activity causes their recommendations; it only shows an association.
Declared interests
No external funding was received, and no conflicts of interest were declared.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that a provider's own high activity level means they will confidently recommend guideline-based activity to clients. Most providers recommended less activity than guidelines suggest, and their own activity level was only moderately correlated with their recommendations.