Grant: CIHR Fellowship

Patients living with chronic diseases frequently consult in primary care. Physical activity is one of the most important factor of chronic diseases prevention and treatment, but four out of five Canadians do not meet recommended levels. Primary care organizations have been trying to improve patients' physical activity levels for years, but evidence on factors influencing patients' activation is lacking. As a result, strategies to help primary clinicians activate chronic patients are very limited. The aims of the study are therefore to develop a framework to describe factors influencing patient's activation for physical activity and develop targeted strategies to increase patients living with chronic diseases physical activity levels. In phase 1, we will review all existing frameworks related to patients' activation to develop a new complete framework explaining the links between characteristics of patients and organizations and patient activation for physical activity in patients living with chronic diseases. In phase 2, we will use the patient journey mapping method to understand patients' activation and physical activity levels during their life. Thirty patients will be recruited from the Quebec's version of an international survey of people living with chronic disease. We will create an interview guide based on the framework developed in phase 1 and interview participants on their physical activity levels and history of their chronic diseases. We will identify typical pathways of activated and non-activated patients including personal characteristics and organizational factors. Strategies for primary care clinicians to activate patients with chronic diseases will be developed for the different pathways. This study will support a better understanding of factors influencing patients' activation for physical activity and allow to develop strategies for primary clinicians to improve patients living with chronic diseases physical activity levels.