Physical Activity Counseling Education: The Use of Theory in Development, Implementation, and Evaluation

Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions (05/15/25) Shu, Hattie; Martin Ginis, Kathleen A.; Olsen, Kenedy; et al.

Physical activity (PA) counseling, guided by evidence-based principles, may help patients with spinal cord injuries (SCI), who often experience a decline in PA after leaving rehabilitation. A recent study detailed the development of a PA counseling education intervention and assessed the effects of the intervention on PA counseling behavior among rehabilitation hospital physiotherapists and community SCI peers. The development of a PA counseling education intervention was guided by the Knowledge to Action (KTA) framework combined with a quality implementation framework. Using a survey guided by the theoretical domains framework that was administered before and after training (immediately, 2 months after, and 6 months after), the physiotherapists and SCI peers had substantial, medium-large-sized effects on PA counseling through 2 and 6 months. Over the course of the study, there were significant increases in all theoretical domains assessed in the framework, save for intentions. "The combined use of the KTA and quality implementation framework provides a structure for engaging practitioners in education intervention design," the researchers conclude.

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