ABSTRACT
David,&McPhee,1999).Althoughitisimportantfor thephysiciantowriteaprescriptionforexercisetype, intensity,anddurationbasedonthepresenceofarthritisandotherco-existingandlimitingchronicdiseases,
190nursescanplayacriticalroleinassistingthepatients withimplementingtheseprescriptions.Nursingprofessionalscandesignoradaptavailablepatienteducationalmaterialsrelatedtoexercise,applybasicbehavioralmodificationtechniques,anduseaself-
195managementapproachtohelpingpatientsexercise regularly(Blixen,Branstedt,Hammel,&Tilley,2004; Kinion,Christie,&Villella,1993;Tulloch,Fortier,& Hogg,inpress).Theycanprovidethemajorityofeducationandbehaviorreinforcementthroughinitialand
200follow-upcounselingsessions.Theycanaddressbarrierstophysicalactivity,discussrelapseprevention,and collaboratewiththephysiciantoprovideoptimalexercisecounselingwithminimalphysiciantimecommitment.Nursinginterventionsreducetimedemandson
205physicians,yetprovideindividualizedcarenecessary forphysicalactivitymaintenance.