Table 3 Exploratory logistic regression models identifying Australian chiropractor characteristics associated with encouraging patients to be more physically active, referenced against those who infrequently recommend physical activity

Practitioner and Patients

Gender (Male)

2.33

1.32–4.12

0.003

Children (up to 3 years)

0.5

0.28–0.87

0.015

Children (4–18 years)

0.42

0.21–0.86

0.017

Pregnant women

0.5

0.26–0.94

0.032

Practice

Private practice

0.32

0.13–0.76

0.01

Both private practice and academia

2.67

1.11–6.43

0.028

How frequently do you recommend or prescribe the following

How often do you perform pre-exercise screening (e.g., baseline bodyweight, heart rate and blood pressure etc.) on your patients prior to recommending physical activity?

3.52

1.3–9.56

0.014

Aerobic exercise (i.e., endurance training). n = 213

5.11

2.72–9.6

< 0.0001

Resistance exercise (i.e., strength training). n = 214

4.59

2.42–8.7

< 0.0001

How frequently do you determine or quantify your prescription of physical activity under the FITT principles (Frequency, Intensity, Time and Type)

Frequency (how often). n = 215

2.33

1.24–4.38

0.009

Intensity (how hard). n = 214

2.06

1.17–3.65

0.013

Time or duration (how long). n = 211

2.17

1.22–3.88

0.009

Type (aerobic/cardio, strength, endurance). n = 213

3.08

1.69–5.62

< 0.0001

To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements:

Good health requires adding large muscle group strengthening activities (such as resistance or weight training) a few times per week. n = 209

2.47

1.21–5.05

0.013

As a chiropractor, I feel confident in giving general advice to patients about a physically active lifestyle. n = 207

11.65

1.37–98.71

0.024

As a chiropractor, I feel confident in suggesting specific physical activity programs to my patients. n = 210

4.5

2.03–9.99

< 0.0001

What kind of physical activity promotion is or would be feasible for you to deliver to your patients (beyond prescribing therapeutic /rehabilitative exercise)?

a. Brief exercise counselling integrated into your regular consultations. n = 208

4.55

1.92–10.75

0.001

b. Separate one-on-one consultations. N = 208

2.24

1.25–4.01

0.007

c. Group sessions. n = 208

1.84

1.02–3.31

0.043

d. Distribution of educational resources (e.g., Brochures). n = 205

2.88

1.28–6.48

0.011