Measurement of the Prescription of Physical Exercise in Chronic Diseases: A Proposal of a Scale for Physicians of Second-Level Hospital Practitioners

Background: Physical inactivity is one of the main risk factors for the development of chronic non-communicable diseases. Despite global initiatives such as “Exercise is Medicine”, there is little information regarding the recommendations of physicians in secondary public hospitals to implement physical activity as an adjuvant for their patients with CNDs. There is a critical gap between this knowledge and its implementation in routine clinical practice. This gap is particularly relevant in the context of a secondary hospital in Mexico, where CNDs are the leading cause of death. Objectives: The aim was to explore the perception and practice of physicians at a secondary care hospital in Nuevo León, Mexico, in relation to exercise prescription for the treatment of CNDs. Methods: Instrumental design research was conducted for the construction and valuation of the psychometric properties of a questionnaire administered to 127 physicians from a local hospital. AFE, CFA, and reliability analyses were conducted. Results: The analysis showed a two-factor structure in a scale with good reliability and adjustment according to the CFA goodness-of-fit indices. Also, it is shown that although 63.8% of physicians frequently inquire about PA in their patients and 60.6% discuss its importance, only 44.9% perform formal evaluations through physical tests. Conclusions: Barriers identified include a lack of standardized protocols, insufficient resources, and limitations in medical training. These findings highlight the need for institutional policies that prioritize exercise prescription as an essential component of CDN treatment, aligning with WHO guidelines for exploring population health.