Health Care Provider Support for Physical Activity in Women, Aged 20-44 Years, in Georgia: A Qualitative Study

Background: Despite the benefits of physical activity, only 12.1% of women in rural Georgia aged 20-44 years, fully adhere to the recommended amount of physical activity. According to previous research studies, health care provider support is an important factor in promoting physical activity among patients. Methods: The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand the presence and importance of the health care provider support for physical activity in women aged 20-44 years. A semi-structured question guide directed by a Critical Theory of Medical Discourse was utilized for twenty in-depth interviews. To answer qualitative questions of the study, an intensity sampling was used to identify excellent examples of the phenomenon of interest. The participants were interviewed until theoretical saturation was reached. Results: The majority of the participants felt more comfortable having a woman as their primary health care provider, Most participants utilized the Obstetrician-Gynecologist (OBGYN) for the primary care, physical activity information was provided mostly to patients who were overweight, provided physical activity information wasn’t sufficient nor tailored to each patient. Conclusion: Primary care setting could be a powerful outlet for the promotion of physical activity. However, health care providers might need to expend the range of expertise and collaborate with other community members to increase the physical activity level among women aged 20-44 years.