Medical doctors physical activity patterns and their advice about chronic diseases of lifestyle risk reduction in Tanzania

Abstract

Chronic diseases of lifestyle (COL) are on a raising trend in the world regardless of age, economic class or geographical location of a population. The mortality rate associated with COL is alarmingly among the highest globally. Tanzania is not exempted from this development. Literature indicates that physical activity is a health practice that can prevent COL. It is recommended that medical practitioners should hold the responsibility of counselling patients on physical activity. Some studies outside Africa found an association between doctors' physical activity patterns and their counselling practices on the same. This study therefore sought to establish whether physical inactivity among medical doctors in Tanzania significantly influenced their counselling practices on physical activity. A cross sectional quantitative survey at the Muhimbili National Hospital and Muhimbili Orthopedic Institute was conducted to derive the required information. A self administered structured questionnaire was voluntarily answered by 144 medical doctors.