
%0 Journal Article
%A Patel, Asmita 
%A Kolt, Gregory 
%A Keogh, Justin 
%A Schofield, Grant 
%T The Green Prescription and older adults: what do general practitioners see as barriers?
%J Journal of Primary Health Care
%D 2012/12/01
%V 4
%N 4
%P 320-327
%K 
%R https://doi.org/10.1071/HC12320
%U https://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/HC12320 
%X INTRODUCTION: Limited research exists that has examined the barriers that older adults (those aged 65 years and older) can encounter when given a Green Prescription (GRx). This study aimed to identify what general practitioners (GPs) perceived their older-aged patients&#x92; barriers were with regard to carrying out a GRx. This study also identified the strategies that GPs used to assist their older-aged patients in overcoming barriers to physical activity engagement. METHODS: Fifteen GPs from the Auckland region of New Zealand were interviewed individually. An inductive thematic approach was used to analyse data. FINDINGS: GPs identified chronic health conditions, fear of injury, transportation constraints, set routines and lack of confidence as being barriers that some of their older-aged patients have encountered when considering whether to become more physically active and, also, when engaging in actual physical activity. CONCLUSION: Physical activity interventions, such as the GRx programme, can have an important role in helping confer health-related gain for low-active older adults. To ensure that such interventions are successful on a long-term basis, practitioners need to be aware of the barriers that their older-aged patients can encounter when given a prescription for physical activity. KEYWORDS: Green Prescription; older adults; physical activity, primary health care 
