Promoción de la actividad física a través de la atención primaria de salud: conjunto de instrumentos

Regular physical activity can prevent heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer. It can also help manage chronic diseases such as hypertension, improve mental health and cognitive function, delay the onset of dementia, and reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. In the case of older people, it is also important to maintain physical activity, balance and prevent falls.

However, according to data obtained worldwide, 28% of adults (1.4 billion people) and more than 80% of adolescents do not meet the physical activity levels recommended by the WHO (see box 2).

In this context, WHO has compiled a set of tools to support countries in the development and implementation of effective policy measures to promote physical activity.

It is supported by the Global Action Plan on Physical Activity 2018-2030 and the ACTIVE technical package and focuses on the role of interventions that can be delivered in primary health and community care services.. Nevertheless, It can also be extended to those health professionals who work in health care settings. secondary, social and community care.

It consists of 5 sections:

1. Why promote physical activity through primary health care?
2. Evidence-based interventions to promote physical activity.
3. Key stages to apply the Brief Intervention Protocol on Physical Activity in primary health care settings
4. Enabling factors for effective implementation
5. Examples of promoting physical activity through primary health care

And 8 annexes:

1. Complementary bibliography on physical activity.
2. Additional Resources to Assess Risk and Prepare Patients for More Physical Activity
3. Additional Training Resources
4. Examples of patient education resources
5. Examples of statements in defense of physical activity guidance
6. Guides for primary health care providers
7. Conduct an assessment of the situation to promote physical activity.
8. Sample indicators for the application of the Brief Intervention Protocol on Physical Activity in primary health care.

Sources and resources of interest: