Adapted Physical Activity, Frailty, General Practitioner Education, Malnutrition Elderly, Older Adults (65 Years and Older), Primary Care, Sedentary Behavior
Conditions
Keywords
Primary care, physical activity, Training, older adults, general practitioner, adapted physical activity, Medical education
Brief summary
This randomized, parallel-group interventional study evaluated the impact of brief targeted training on general practitioners' knowledge and professional practices regarding malnutrition and adapted physical activity (APA). Final-year GP residents and practicing GPs in the Pays de la Loire region were randomly assigned to either a malnutrition training group or an APA training group. Each group served as an active control for the topic not received. Knowledge and self-reported practices were assessed using an online questionnaire before and one month after training.
Detailed description
Participants were recruited in the Pays de la Loire region, France. Recruitment occurred in two phases: invitations to final-year GP residents in November 2024 with a reminder in May 2025, and regional dissemination through the Regional Union of Private Practitioners in April 2025. Inclusion occurred from 13 January to 14 August 2025. Participants were randomized equally to a malnutrition training group or an APA training group. The malnutrition intervention consisted of a 10-minute online training video and a summary leaflet. The APA intervention consisted of a 14-minute online training video and a summary leaflet. The videos were based on relevant guidelines and the leaflets summarized the main messages. Participants completed identical online questionnaires at inclusion and one month after training. The questionnaire assessed practice characteristics, sedentary behavior and APA prescribing, and malnutrition diagnosis and management.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALMalnutrition training
Participants received a 10-minute online training video focused on malnutrition in older adults, followed by a summary leaflet. The training covered definition, diagnostic criteria, causes, consequences, and management in primary care, with emphasis on dietary counseling and dietary enrichment. Content was based on local and international guidelines and validated by experts.
BEHAVIORALAdapted physical activity training
Participants received a 14-minute online training video focused on adapted physical activity, followed by a summary leaflet. The training reviewed frailty, physical activity recommendations, and practical guidance for prescribing APA, with emphasis on available online tools and local resources. Content was based on local and WHO guidelines and validated by experts.
Sponsors
Nantes University Hospital
Laboratoire Motricité, Interactions, Performance (UR 4334) of Nantes University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)
Masking description
Partial blinding. Participants were informed that they were evaluating a training program but were unaware of the control group. Investigator/outcome assessor masking: not reported.
Intervention model description
Randomized, parallel-group interventional study with two active training groups; each group served as the active control for the topic not received
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
25 Years to 70 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Final-year GP residents in ambulatory training and practicing GPs in the Pays de la Loire region, willing to participate in the study and complete the study questionnaires
Exclusion criteria
* None
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in the number of adapted physical activity prescriptions. | One Month after Training | Change in the self-reported number of APA prescriptions during the previous month, assessed by online questionnaire. |
| Change in malnutrition management, dietary enrichment prescriptions. | One Month after Training | Change in the proportion of physicians reporting dietary enrichment as a malnutrition management practice. |
| Change in malnutrition management, oral nutritional supplement prescriptions. | One Month after Training | Change in the proportion of physicians reporting oral nutritional supplement (ONS) prescriptions as a malnutrition management practice. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Change in the number of consultations addressing APA during the previous month | One Month after Training |
| Change in the percentage of participants acquainted with local facilities/resources providing APA. | One Month after Training |
| Change in the number of consultations with weight analysis | One Month after Training |
| Change in the number of consultations with albumin dosage | One Month after Training |
| Change in the percentage of referral to a nutritionist/dietitian after diagnosis of malnutrition | One Month after Training3 |
| Change in the percentage of referral to a dentist after diagnosis of malnutrition | One Month after Training |
| Change in the percentage of texture modification or fractionation prescription after diagnosis of malnutrition | One Month after Training |
| Change in the percentage of participants reporting "lack of knowledge" as a barrier to APA prescription | One Month after Training |
| Change in the percentage of participants reporting "lack of time" as a barrier to APA prescription | One Month after Training |
| Change in the percentage of participants reporting "lack of facilities" as a barrier to APA prescription | One Month after Training |
| Change in the percentage of participants reporting "financial difficulties" as a barrier to APA prescription | One Month after Training |
| Change in the percentage of participants reporting "patient refusal" as a barrier to APA prescription | One Month after Training |
Countries
France
Outcome results
None listed