Medical Hospital Consideration About Prescription of Physical Exercise to Treat Non-Communicable Chronic Diseases

Background/Objectives: Regular physical activity helps prevent and treat non-communicable chronic diseases. Physical inactivity is one of the main risk factors for mortality due to non-communicable diseases, meaning that the risk of death increases by 20% to 30% compared to individuals who reach a sufficient level of physical activity. The aim was to explore the perceptions and practices of physicians in a secondary level hospital in Nuevo León, Mexico, regarding the prescription of exercise to treat non-communicable chronic diseases. Methods: A validated questionnaire was applied to 127 physicians affiliated with the hospital, assessing two dimensions: Advice on physical exercise (factor 1) and Application of physical exercise (factor 2). Results: It was found that, although 63.8% of physicians frequently inquire about their patients' levels of physical activity and 60.6% discuss its importance, only 44.9% conduct formal evaluations through physical tests. Additionally, while 85% recognize the need to refer patients to exercise specialists, only 26.8% do so regularly. The reliability of the instrument was excellent (α = 0.857; ω = 0.852 factor 1 and ω = 0.798 factor 2), confirming its validity. Conclusions: Identified barriers include a lack of standardized protocols, insufficient resources, and limitations in medical training. These findings underscore the need for institutional policies that prioritize exercise prescription as an essential part of the treatment of non-communicable chronic diseases, aligning with WHO guidelines to improve population health.