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The objective of this study was to explore the stated importance of promoting healthy lifestyle habits (alcohol, eating habits, physical activity and tobacco) by healthcare professionals, and to what extent these attitudes were translated into clinical work. In 2014, healthcare professionals (n = 251) from cardiology departments in two hospitals in Stockholm, Sweden, participated in a cross‐sectional descriptive questionnaire‐based survey. The questionnaire included topics regarding stated importance and clinical work undertaken to promote healthy lifestyle habits. Personal and organisational factors of potential importance, expectations and future work were also explored. To analyse differences in stated importance and clinical work within and between lifestyle factors, comparisons of proportions were performed with 99% confidence intervals (CI). Relationships between stated importance and clinical work were investigated using logistic regression. The majority of healthcare professionals stated that it was 'very important' to promote healthy lifestyle habits among patients in general (69%–94%) and in their own clinical work (63%–80%). Despite this, always asking questions (18%–41%) or providing counselling (11%–23%) regarding lifestyle habits was reported to be rare. Overall, tobacco cessation was considered the most important behavioural change and was more often included in clinical work compared to promoting physical activity, healthy eating habits and limiting alcohol use. Clinical work was mainly influenced by to what extent the healthcare professional perceived clear organisational routines and objectives. In conclusion, we observed a gap between stated importance and clinical work in the promotion of healthy lifestyle habits among healthcare professionals. There were differences between lifestyle factors, indicating that work with tobacco cessation is the most established. Our results suggest that in order to promote patients' lifestyle habits in line with evidence‐based guidelines, healthcare management should focus on and improve organisational routines and objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Physical activity on prescription, as a method for increasing physical activity, has attracted attention in recent years. However, few studies have examined adherence as a primary outcome variable. The aim of this article was to examine self-reported adherence to individualized prescribed physical activity in a routine primary health care setting. Methods: Patients receiving an individualized physical activity on prescription (FaR) for prevention or treatment of disease were recruited from 13 Swedish primary health care units. Self-reported adherence, physical activity level, readiness to change to a more physically active lifestyle, and well-being were measured with questions at baseline and after 6 months in 240 patients (mean age 51, range 12 to 80, 75% women). Results: At the 6-month follow-up a majority (65%) of the patients reported adherence to the prescription. Partial adherence was reported by 19% and nonadherence by 16%. There was a relationship between adherence and well-being and stages of action or maintenance. Conclusions: The results demonstrate that adherence to physical activity on prescription is as good as adherence to other treatments for chronic diseases. This is signifi- cant because even a small increase in physical activity is important both on an individual level and for public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To elucidate physical activity in the first year after myocardial infarction (MI), and to explore differences in various subgroups, delineated by age, participation in exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (exCR), or restrictions due to the covid-19 pandemic. Secondly, to explore associations between changes in physical activity variables with blood pressure and lipid levels., Methods: A longitudinal study in 2017-2023. Physical activity variables were assessed via accelerometers at two- and twelve months post-MI. The intensity was divided into, sedentary, light, moderate, and vigorous-intensity physical activity, according to established cut-offs. Blood pressure and lipids were measured by standardized procedures at the same time points., Results: There were 178 patients included at baseline, 81% male, mean age of 64 (9 SD) years. Patients spent 72% of their time sedentary, followed by light (19%), moderate (8%), and vigorous physical activity (1%). Patients included during covid-19 restrictions and younger patients had a higher level of moderate-intensity physical activity compared to patients included during non-pandemic restrictions and older patients. At 12-month follow-up, patients overall increased time (1%) in sedentary behavior ( p  = 0.03) and decreased time (0.6%) in moderate-intensity physical activity ( p  = 0.04), regardless of participation in exCR or age. There was a positive association between the change in mean physical activity intensity and HDL-cholesterol ( p  = 0.047)., Conclusions: Participants had a low fraction of time in moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity two months post-MI, which deteriorated during the first year. This emphasizes the need for improved implementation of evidence-based interventions to support and motivate patients to perform regular physical activity.