Exploration of sedentary behaviour among GPs: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND:Sedentary behaviour, which may have increased among GPs due to increasing use of telemedicine, is associated with many illnesses and increased all-cause mortality. AIM:To explore levels of sedentary behaviour among GPs and General Practice Specialty Trainees (GPSTs). DESIGN & SETTING:Sequential, cross-sectional design (initial online sedentary behaviour questionnaire and subsequent thigh-worn accelerometer substudy) of GPs and GPSTs in Northern Ireland. METHOD:Self-reported questionnaire data were aggregated and compared with device-measured accelerometry data. RESULTS:Data from 353 participants (17.7% of GPs and GPSTs in Northern Ireland) revealed doctors in general practice self-reported higher workday sedentary time (10.33 hours, SD 2.97) than those in secondary care (7.9 hours, SD 3.43 [mean difference {MD} 2.43 hours; PPPPCONCLUSION:GPs have high levels of workday sedentary time, which may be detrimental to their health. It is imperative to develop methods to address sedentary behaviour among GPs on workdays, both for their own health and the health of their patients.