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Interventions promoting physical activity among general practitioners: a systematic literature review

Soumaya Aicha BEN TAHER, Mariem DAHMEN, Asma FARDAOUI, Dajla MADOURI, Maha BELDI, Essia HAJRI, Najand CHAMMAR, Mariem JRAD, Olfa JAIDANE and Dorra BOUSNINA

Physical inactivity has become a major public health concern in the world due to its contribution to preventable morbidity. General practitioners (GPs) play a key role in promoting physical activity (PA), and evidence indicates that physically active GPs are more likely to counsel their patients on PA. Supporting GPs in improving their own PA levels may therefore strengthen preventive practices. However, little is known about the interventions designed to promote PA among GPs and about whether these interventions are evaluated.To identify interventions aimed at promoting physical activity among general practitioners and to assess whether their effects have been evaluated.A systematic literature review was conducted following PRISMA recommendations. Eligible studies evaluated the effects of interventions promoting PA—directly or indirectly—among general practitioners. Only full-text articles were included. Two reviewers independently carried out study selection. Extracted data included study characteristics, intervention types, and outcomes. Methodological quality was assessed using the Medical Education Research Study Quality Instrument (MERSQI). A narrative synthesis was performed.Among the 3,375 references retrieved, five studies met inclusion criteria. Four were conducted in North America and one in Luxembourg. Interventions consisted either of structured training workshops targeting GPs or national PA promotion campaigns. Low to moderate quality evidence suggested that targeted interventions, particularly training workshops, were more likely to positively influence GPs’ behaviour regarding PA counselling. No study assessed changes in the GPs’ own physical activity levels, health status, or wellbeing. Evaluation methods and outcome measures varied widely, limiting comparability.The literature on interventions promoting PA among GPs is sparse and heterogeneous. Existing studies suggest a potential effect on counselling behaviours, but the absence of data on GPs’ personal PA levels, and the low methodological quality of available studies, highlight important gaps. More robust evaluation strategies are needed, particularly those exploring behavioural, wellbeing, and organisational outcomes.This review provides preliminary guidance for the development of a participatory action research project currently underway within a Primary Care Territorial Community in XXX. The findings support the relevance of implementing a structured, targeted intervention and help inform the selection of appropriate evaluation criteria for future assessment.