Association of primary care physicians’ exercise habits and their age, specialty, and workplace

Abstract

Background

In this study, we investigated primary care physicians’ exercise habits, and the association of this variable with their age, specialty, and workplace.

Methods

The population of this cross-sectional study comprised 3,310 medical doctors who graduated from Jichi Medical University in Japan between 1978 and 2012. The study instrument was a self-administered questionnaire mailed in August 2012 to investigate primary care physicians’ exercise habits, age, specialty, and workplace.

Results

The 896 available primary care physicians’ responses to the self-administered questionnaire were analyzed. Their exercise frequency was as follows: daily, 104 (11.6%); at least 2–3 times per week, 235 (26.2%); no more than once a week, 225 (25.1%); no more than once a month, 278 (31.0%); and other, 52 (5.8%). Their exercise intensity was as follows: high (≥6 Mets), 264 (29.5%); moderate (4–6 Mets), 199 (22.2%); mild, (3–4 Mets), 295 (32.9%); very mild (<3 Mets), 68 (7.6%); none, 64 (7.1%); and other, 6 (0.7%). Their exercise volume was calculated to represent their exercise habits by multiplying score for exercise frequency by score for intensity. Multivariate linear regression analyses showed that the primary care physicians’ exercise volumes were associated with their age (P<0.01) and workplace (P<0.01), but not with their specialty (P=0.37). Primary care physicians in the older age group were more likely to have a higher exercise volume than those in the younger age groups (50–60 years > older than 60 years >40–50 years >30–40 years >24–30 years). Primary care physicians working in a clinic were more likely to have a higher exercise volume than those working in a university hospital, polyclinic hospital, or hospital.

Conclusion

Primary care physicians’ exercise habits were associated with their age and workplace, but not with their specialty.

Keywords:

• primary care physician
• self-administered questionnaire
• exercise habits
• age
• specialty
• workplace

Introduction

Exercise has a positive impact on total morbidity and mortality, and can also prevent many chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, metabolic disease, chronic kidney disease, arthritis, obesity, and depression.^1–8 Several exercise guidelines recommend at least 2.5 hours of exercise per week.^9–14 Primary care physicians have an important role in exercise counseling because they manage patients at the front line. Exercise counseling by primary care physicians has been reported to improve patients’ exercise habits.¹⁵ Several studies have also reported that primary care physicians’ own lifestyles may influence the lifestyle counseling that they offer to patients.^16–19 These lines of evidence suggest that primary care physicians’ exercise habits are important for both their own health and when counseling patients about exercise. However, details concerning the exercise habits of primary care physicians have not been previously reported. Therefore, we tried to clarify whether primary care physicians take good care of themselves by exercising. In addition, given that primary care physicians vary with regard to age, specialty, and workplace, we investigated the relationship between exercise habits and age, specialty, and workplace in a large population (n=3,310) of medical doctors.

Subjects and methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by a member of the ethics committee of Jichi Medical University.

Subjects

The study population comprised 3,310 medical doctors who graduated from Jichi Medical University in Japan between 1978 and 2012. Medical doctors who graduate from this university have a 5–7-year obligation to work in a rural area of Japan as primary care physicians. Most (>80%) continue to work as primary care physicians after this term of duty.

Study instrument

The study instrument was a self-administered questionnaire designed to obtain detailed information about specific characteristics of primary care physicians, including their age, specialty, workplace, personal exercise habits, exercise counseling for patients with metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease, and management of chronic kidney disease (exercise counseling practice, medical prescription pattern). The results concerning their exercise counseling of patients with metabolic syndrome and/or cardiovascular disease and management of chronic kidney disease will be analyzed and reported elsewhere. The parameters canvassed in the questionnaire along with the response options were as follows:

1. Age (24–30, 30–40, 40–50, 50–60, or ≥60 years)

2. Specialty (internal medicine, surgery, general medicine, pediatrics, other)

3. Workplace (university hospital, polyclinic hospital, hospital, clinic, other [including health facilities for recuperation])

4. Weekly frequency of exercise sessions lasting 30 minutes (daily, at least 2–3 times per week, no more than once a week, no more than once a month, other)

5. Intensity of exercise (high [≥6 Mets], eg, swimming, jogging, soccer, cycling; moderate [4–6 Mets], eg, quick walking, golf; mild [3–4 Mets], eg, walking, cleaning; very mild [<3 Mets], eg, stretching, cooking; none; other).

Exercise volume

Exercise volume was calculated to represent exercise habits by multiplying the score for exercise frequency by the score for exercise intensity. The frequency of exercise sessions lasting at least 30 minutes was scored as follows: daily, 3.5 (7 days × 0.5 hours); at least 2–3 times/week, 1.25 (2.5 days × 0.5 hours); no more than once a week 0.5 (one day × 0.5 hours), no more than once a month, or 0.125 (0.25 days × 0.5 hours). Exercise intensity was scored as follows: high, 6 (6 Mets); moderate, 5 (5 Mets); mild, 4 (4 Mets); very mild, 3 (3 Mets); or none, 0 (0 Mets). Answers marked “other” for exercise frequency (n=52) and exercise intensity (n=6) were excluded from evaluation of exercise volume because they could not be scored.

Statistical analysis

All data are expressed as the mean ± standard deviation. The associations between primary care physicians’ exercise volume and their age, specialty, and workplace were analyzed by multiple linear regression analysis to determine the independent variables. SPSS Statistics version 21 software (IBM, Armonk, NY, USA) was used for the statistical analysis. Values of P<0.05 were considered to be statistically significant.

Results

The survey was mailed to 3,310 medical doctors, with responses received from 933 (28.2%). Thirty-seven responses were excluded for lack of completeness in terms of information supplied regarding age group, specialty, and workplace. The remaining 896 responses to the self-administered questionnaire were analyzed. As shown in Table 1, the primary care physicians’ age, specialty, and workplace data were as follows:

Table 1 Characteristics of primary care physicians

	n (%)
Age, years
24–30	75 (8.4)
30–40	273 (30.5)
40–50	284 (31.7)
50–60	249 (27.8)
≥60	15 (1.7)
Total	896 (100)
Specialty
Internal medicine	412 (46.0)
Surgery	168 (18.8)
General medicine	163 (18.2)
Pediatrics	45 (5.0)
Other	108 (12.1)
Total	896 (100)
Workplace
University hospital	108 (12.1)
Polyclinic hospital	201 (22.4)
Hospital	256 (28.6)
Clinic	288 (32.1)
Other	43 (4.8)
Total	896 (100)

1. Age (24–30 years, 75 [8.4%]; 30–40 years, 273 [30.5%]; 40–50 years, 284 [31.7%]; 50–60 years, 249 [27.8%]; and ≥60 years, 15 [1.7%])

2. Specialty (internal medicine, 412 [46.0%]; surgery, 168 [18.8%]; general medicine, 163 [18.2%]; pediatrics, 45 [5.0%]; other, 108 [12.1%])

3. Workplace (university hospital, 108 [12.1%]; polyclinic hospital, 201 [22.4%]; hospital, 256 [28.6%]; clinic, 288 [32.1%]; other, 43 [4.8%]).

Primary care physicians’ exercise habits

The primary care physicians’ exercise frequency was as follows: daily, 104 (11.6%); at least 2–3 times per week, 235 (26.2%); at least once a week, 225 (25.1%); no more than once a month, 278 (31.0%); or other, 52 (5.8%, Table 2). Their exercise intensity was as follows: high (≥6 Mets), 264 (29.5%); moderate (4–6 Mets), 199 (22.2%); mild (3–4 Mets), 295 (32.9%); very mild (<3 Mets) 68 (7.6%); none, 64 (7.1%); or other, 6 (0.7%, Table 2). Exercise frequency and intensity categorized by age, specialty, and workplace are shown in Figure 1A and B. Mean exercise volume categorized by age, specialty, and workplace was as follows:

Figure 1 (A) Associations of primary care physicians’ exercise frequency and their age, specialty, and workplace. (B) Asociations of primary care physicians’ exercise intensity and their age, specialty, and workplace. (C) Associations of primary care physicians’ exercise volume and their age, specialty, and workplace.

Table 2 Primary care physicians’ own exercise habits

	n (%)
Frequency
Daily	104 (11.6)
At least 2–3 times per week	235 (26.2)
No more than once per week	225 (25.1)
No more than once a month	278 (31.0)
Other	52 (5.8)
N/A	2 (0.2)
Total	896 (100)
Intensity
High (≥6 Mets)	264 (29.5)
Moderate (4–6 Mets)	199 (22.2)
Mild (3–4 Mets)	295 (32.9)
Very mild (<3 Mets)	68 (7.6)
None	64 (7.1)
Other	6 (0.7)
Total	896 (100)

Abbreviation: N/A, not available.

1. Age (24–30 years, 3.12 ± 3.88; 30–40 years, 3.65 ± 4.78; 40–50 years, 5.12 ± 5.84; 50–60 years, 6.43 ± 6.42; and ≥60 years, 5.03 ± 4.43)

2. Specialty (internal medicine, 4.42 ± 5.41; surgery, 4.67 ± 5.56; general medicine, 5.75 ± 6.06; pediatrics, 4.90 ± 6.21; or other, 5.39 ± 5.75)

3. Workplace (university hospital, 4.14 ± 4.90; polyclinic hospital, 3.86 ± 4.99; hospital, 4.21 ± 4.90; clinic, 6.29 ± 6.64; and other, 4.85 ± 5.66).

Multivariate linear regression analyses showed that the primary care physicians’ age (P<0.01) and workplace (P<0.01) were associated with their exercise volume (Table 3 and Figure 1C). However, their specialty was not associated with their exercise volume (P=0.37, Table 3 and Figure 1C). Primary care physicians in the older age group were more likely to have a higher exercise volume than their younger counterparts (50–60 years > older than 60 years >40–50 years >30–40 years >24–30 years). Primary care physicians working in a clinic were more likely to have a higher exercise volume than those working in a university hospital, polyclinic hospital, or hospital.

Table 3 Multivariate linear regression analyses of the association between primary care physicians’ own exercise habits (exercise volume) and their age, specialty, and workplace

	(Model R^2=0.056)
	β	P
Age	0.18	<0.01
Specialty	0.07	0.37
Workplace	0.10	<0.01

Discussion

In the present study, the exercise habits of primary care physicians were significantly associated with their age and workplace, but not with their specialty. Their age group was positively associated with their exercise habits. Those in the older age group were likely to do more exercise than those in the younger age groups (50–60 years > older than 60 years >40–50 years >30–40 years >24–30 years). Primary care physicians working in a clinic were more likely to have better exercise habits than those working in a university hospital, polyclinic hospital, or hospital. These results may be explained by primary care physicians in the older age groups and those working in clinics taking better care of their own health and being able to make time available for exercise than younger doctors working in a university hospital, polyclinic hospital, or hospital. Many physical activity guidelines include recommendations regarding exercise.^9–14 US physical activity guidelines recommend at least 2.5 hours a week of moderate intensity physical activity, such as brisk walking.⁹ The UK physical activity guidelines also recommend at least 2.5 hours of moderate intensity activity in bouts of 10 minutes or more.¹⁴ The committee of Ministry of Health, Labour and welfare of Japan recommends 23 Mets-hours (Mets multiple hours) per week of exercise with an intensity >3 Mets.¹² The exercise frequency of many primary care physicians in the present study did not reach the recommended levels; about 50% of the respondents reported an exercise frequency of less than once a week (no more than once a week, 25.1%; no more than once a month, 31.0%). Their exercise intensity likely reached the recommended levels because over 80% of primary care physicians reported an exercise intensity above 3 Mets (≥6 Mets, 29.5%; 4–6 Mets, 22.2%; 3–4 Mets, 32.9%). Several studies have reported that physicians’ lifestyles may influence the lifestyle counseling they offer to patients.^16–19 Kawakami et al reported that physicians who smoked themselves were less likely to recommend that patients stop smoking than those who did not smoke.¹⁷ Abramson et al reported that physicians who exercised regularly were more likely to counsel their patients on the benefits of exercise.¹⁶ These lines of evidence suggest that improvement of lifestyle, including exercise habits, may contribute positively to not only primary care physicians’ own health but also their health counseling of patients. Therefore, encouragement of primary care physicians to undertake exercise seems to be important for public health. Considering that the level of exercise performed by primary care physicians in the present study did not reach that recommended in the current exercise guidelines, greater encouragement of doctors to exercise is necessary.

There are several limitations in this study. First, the study instrument was a mailed self-administered questionnaire, which raises the issue of self-selection bias and could also have contributed to the low response rate (28.2%). Second, the primary care physicians in this study may not be representative of the entire population of primary care physicians, because all had graduated from the same university. Third, it should be noted that the results of this study were from a self-administered questionnaire, and therefore do not reflect an objective evaluation of primary care physicians’ actual exercise habits. Finally, primary care physicians’ reports of their own behavior may not always be accurate.²⁰ Further studies will be needed to investigate the actual exercise habits of primary care physicians using instruments such as exercise recording devices.

In conclusion, primary care physicians’ exercise habits were found to be inadequate in this study, and were significantly associated with age and workplace, but not with specialty.

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Minami Watanabe, Yuko Suda, Yukari Hoshino, and Aiko Oashi for their assistance with this research.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.