Determinants of Exercise Counseling Practices Among Family Physicians in Primary Care in Saudi Arabia

Background Physical activity (PA) is any movement of the human skeletal muscles causing energy expenditure. Physical activity is vital for the prevention and controlling of non-communicable disorders. However, healthcare experts often express gaps in the knowledge, attitude, and practice of exercise counselling. This study aims to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice score of exercise counselling among family physicians in primary care centers in Saudi Arabia. Methods A cross-sectional online survey was performed among 400 family physicians across Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire included sociodemographic data, knowledge of PA strategies, attitudes towards exercise, and clinical practice patterns. The knowledge, attitude, and practice domains’ scores associations with participants’ characteristics were investigated using non-parametric tests. The correlations between KAP scores were analysed by Spearman’s test. Results Most participants were less than 34 years old (47.8%). Female physicians represented 53.8% of the sample. Although most participants realized the importance of PA, only 42.5% recognized the recommended PA frequency (150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week). Overall, the analysis showed positive attitudes towards exercise. In terms of practice behaviours, most physicians were active. However, limited time and patient motivation barriers were identified. Additionally, the analysis showed a positive correlation between Knowledge and attitudes scores (r=0.369, p<0.001). Conclusion While family physicians showed positive attitudes and frequent counselling, the study has identified some gaps in the knowledge of guidelines. Additionally, substantial workflow barriers impact optimal exercise advice among family physicians. Targeted educational programs and team-based techniques are needed to enhance the quality and consistency of PA counselling.