PhD student: Thibault TRICONNET
Title: Physical activity promotion in primary care
Supervisors: Pr. Stéphanie SIDORKIEWICZ et Dr. Alexandre MALMARTEL
Doctoral school: ED393 : Pierre Louis de Santé Publique
Promotion: 2025
Thesis abstract
Physical activity (PA) is a major determinant of health, with well-established benefits on both morbidity and mortality. Leading health organizations recommend promoting PA in primary care, with a target of at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, complemented by muscle-strengthening exercises.
However, while a behavior may have proven health benefits, it does not necessarily follow that interventions aiming to promote it will be equally effective. In the case of PA, there are serious doubts regarding the effectiveness of its promotion: some studies show no effect, others only modest short- or medium-term benefits, and long-term outcomes remain uncertain.
Several hypotheses may explain this: the complexity of PA as a behavior, requiring a shift from simple advice during consultation to a demanding activity practiced several hours per week, the mismatch between recommendations and real-life clinical contexts, or the heterogeneity of PA promotion strategies. Indeed, interventions can take many forms, such as brief advice, motivational interviewing, exercise prescriptions, or digital tools, and may target different components including aerobic exercise, muscle strengthening, and multimodal training (balance, proprioception, mobility, fall prevention).
This PhD project questions the relevance, feasibility, and transferability of current recommendations for promoting physical activity in primary care, in a context where the preventive workload of general practitioners is already substantial. It aims to better understand how these recommendations can be integrated, adapted, and prioritized in everyday clinical practice.
