The American College of Sports Medicine and Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Permanente released a new official recommendation that called for healthcare professionals to assess patients' level of physical activity using the Physical Activity Vital Sign at every medical appointment.
Here are three takeaways:
1. The paper, written by Robert E. Sallis, MD, a Kaiser Permanente physician practicing in Southern California, was published in the May/June issue of Current Sports Medicine Reports.
2. Physicians in health systems who have implemented the PAVS ask patients simple questions about the frequency and duration of their typical physical activity.
3. The authors recommend strategies for implementing the PAVS, which include providing information about the measurement for both undergraduate and graduate medical students during their coursework, as well as offering continuing education opportunities about the PAVS, aligning with existing initiatives and collaborating with major stakeholders.