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Medical professionals are urged to use exercise prescription to help their clients to improve and maintain good health as about 20 percent of the population were found to have low level of exercise.
The remark was made by the Assistant Director of Health (Health Promotion), Dr Regina Ching, when she officiated at the press event marking the closing of the 9-module Exercise Prescription Certificate Course for Doctors today (June 25).
She said a study conducted by the Department of Health in October 2005 found that 19.7% of the population had "low" level of physical activity. Therefore, there are scopes for motivating people to take up regular physical activity.
䩕The lack of physical activity could increase the chance of developing heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis, some cancers and many other chronic health problems.
䩕Therefore, medical professionals, apart from providing medical treatment, can also play an important part in helping individuals to improve their health,蒅 Dr Ching said.
The training course was a core component of the Exercise Prescription Project co-organised by the Department of Health (DH) and the Hong Kong Medical Association (HKMA).
It aims to promote physical activities among members of the public through the concerted efforts of the government, medical practitioners as well as other professional disciplines and community groups in Hong Kong.
The course content and implementation was supported by the Physical Fitness Association of Hong Kong, China Ltd and other professional groups.
This is the second of a series of training programmes aimed at encouraging more doctors in general practice to use exercise prescription to help their patients to prevent diseases and stay healthy.
More than 100 doctors attended the first certificate course and over 110 doctors registered for the second one.
Dr Ching said: 䩕The medical profession feel that the special and trusting relationship between doctors and their clients makes them a convenient, reliable and effective source of advice, support and encouragement in motivating people to engage in regular physical activity.
Furthermore, their exercise pattern could be followed up and reinforced in subsequent medical visits,蒅 Dr Ching said.
Apart from acquiring the principles and practice of exercise prescription, doctors attending the course were also required to go through a practice session of the exercise themselves, so that they could acquire the first hand experience of moderate physical activity and its effect on the body.
Among the graduates of the first Exercise Prescription Certificate Course were Dr Choi Kin, President of the HKMA, Dr Chan Yee Shing and Dr Yeung Chiu Fat, Co-Chairmen of Task Force of Exercise for Health Project.
Sharing their experiences on prescribing exercise, they both said patients who took their advices and followed the exercise prescription showed significant improvement, especially those hypertensive and diabetic clients. Drug dosages could be reduced in most cases.
In order to educate the public the benefits of regular exercise and introduce types of exercise that are easy enough to follow, the HKMA has invited the popular TV star Ms Nancy Sit Ka Yin to film a MTV with Dr Chan Yee Shing, who has written the theme song for this campaign. The MTV will be produced later for public distribution by HKMA.
More information on exercise prescription can be found in the website of DH﷿s Central Health Education Unit (http://exerciseRx.cheu.gov.hk.)
Ends/Sunday, June 25, 2006
Issued at HKT 15:00
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