Long-Term Changes in Physical Activity Prescription Competences of Mental Health Professionals Following a Brief Educational Intervention

Abstract

Introduction Enhancing mental health professionals’ knowledge and confidence in prescribing physical activity (PA) is a priority, given its benefits for mental health. This study evaluated whether a brief, three-hour educational workshop could improve PA-related knowledge, attitudes, confidence, and clinical behaviors. Methods Eighty mental health professionals (58% women; mean age 38.9 ± 10.7 years; mean experience 14.5 ± 10.0 years) with mainly a physiotherapy (33.8%), education (15.0%), and psychology (13.8%) background participated. Outcomes were measured using the Exercise in Mental Illness Questionnaire – Health Professionals Version at pre-intervention, immediately post-intervention, and 12-month follow-up. Results At baseline, 83.8% of participants (67/80) reported recommending PA. Among those completing both baseline and 12-month assessments (n = 44), the proportion never recommending PA decreased significantly from 29.5% to 2.3%. Knowledge improved from 2.1 ± 1.3 to 3.7 ± 0.7 (d = 1.26, p <0.001) immediately post-workshop and remained high at 12 months (d = 1.15, p <0.001). Confidence rose from 2.4 ± 1.3 to 3.6 ± 0.7 (d = 0.97, p <0.001) and remained elevated (d = 1.04, p <0.001). Assessment of patient activity increased from 4.5% to 44.2% at 12 months, and participants increasingly provided personalized, preference-based PA guidance. Discussion A single three-hour workshop was associated with large improvements in knowledge, confidence, and PA-related clinical behaviors sustained at 12 months. These findings should be interpreted cautiously given the single-group design, reliance on self-reported outcomes, and substantial attrition at follow-up (44/80 completers). Brief educational interventions may represent a feasible approach to enhancing mental health professionals’ competencies in promoting physical activity. Future research should examine impacts on patient PA engagement.