Filling the fitness gap—strategies for health-conscious pharmacists

At the start of the new year, many of of us set personal movement or exercise goals. In 2023, 46% of Canadians made resolutions, and 75% were health-related goals, including exercising more and changing eating habits.1 In the US, 13% aimed to exercise more—making it the most common resolution. We know the benefits of exercise. We talk to our patients daily about how an exercise routine can boost their physical and mental health. Are we walking the walk?In a previous post, I wrote about the value of setting daily physical, mental, and spiritual goals. Let’s discuss how to meet these daily movement goals.For pharmacists battling burnout, incorporating movement into daily routines can be transformative, with strong evidence supporting its benefits. Regular physical activity reduces depressive symptoms, anxiety, and stress while enhancing mood and cognitive function. A meta-analysis of over 1,000 studies revealed that 89% showed positive associations between physical activity and mental health outcomes, including improved quality of life and reduced psychiatric symptoms.2 A University of Michigan study found that moderate exercise significantly reduces emotional exhaustion and enhances job satisfaction, making it an effective tool for combating workplace stress.3 Similarly, the Harvard Alumni Study highlighted that people spending 2,000 kilocalories weekly through exercise significantly lowered the risks of chronic diseases and improved longevity.4 There are emerging studies showing exercise supports brain function by promoting neuroplasticity and reducing oxidative stress.5 These are vital for physically, mentally and emotionally demanding professions like pharmacy.The demanding nature of our work, including standing for long hours with limited breaks, restricts opportunities for regular exercise. A 2024 study including pharmacists from Iran reported 35.3% had low activity levels due to long hours. Of the pharmacists surveyed, 50.7% had poor general health, with female pharmacists significantly more likely to report poor health compared to their male counterparts.6Short bouts of movement—like walking before and after our shift or stretching during —can be transformative. Try alternating intense activity (e.g., jumping jacks or burpees) with rest intervals to boost energy levels and improve mental clarity while getting ready in the morning. The 7-minute workout improves cardiovascular fitness and metabolic health. A 6-week study on adults aged 18-30 found that daily 7-minute workouts led to slight weight loss, decreased waist circumference (by 4 cm on average) and reduced fat mass and body fat percentage.7 These activities improve personal well-being and enhance professional performance by fostering clarity and reducing fatigue. Until systemic factors like mandatory breaks or workplace policy changes occur, we have to control what we can to deliver high-quality patient care while safeguarding our health.What gets measured improvesAs clinicians, we understand the fundamental principle that what we measure improves. Measurement is not just about tracking activities; it’s a tool for identifying gaps, benchmarking progress, and driving change. When the MedsCheck program launched in Ontario in 2007, we used resources and were reimbursed for conducting patient reviews without measuring their impact on outcomes. This created a gap for other professionals scrutinizing our impact, but this has changed. In hospitals, Clinical Pharmacy Key Performance Indicators (cpKPIs) were developed by Canadian hospital pharmacists. These are quantifiable measures to assess clinical pharmacy service quality, such as medication reconciliation at admission and discharge, participation in interprofessional care rounds, and patient education. Studies show tracking these indicators helps prioritize pharmacist activities, streamline workflows, and reduce hospital readmissions by addressing drug therapy problems.8Wearables: A tool for personal and patient health improvementThe rise of wearable technology offers pharmacists opportunities to enhance personal health and patient care. Devices like rings, smartwatches, shoe straps, and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) provide real-time data on health metrics like activity levels, heart rate, blood pressure, and glucose levels. The wearable technology market was valued at $62.60 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow, reaching $93.9 billion by 2026 and $198.83 billion by 2032, driven by health monitoring and fitness tracking.9Improving personal healthOur demanding schedules provide little time for self-care. Wearables can help by tracking physical activity and encouraging healthier habits. A smartwatch can ping you sending you a reminder to move every hour by tracking movement. Although 60% of the population relies on these devices to track steps, most monitor more advanced metrics including heart rate variability (HRV), oxygen saturation, recovery time and respiratory rate.Enhancing patient outcomesChronic disease management: CGMs like Abbott’s Libre 2 or Dexcom G7 allow pharmacists to monitor patients’ glucose levels in real-time, enabling personalized coaching on diet and exercise to improve diabetes management. This technology has transformed my practice, keeping patients on track and getting them to target. Relying on more than an A1c and focusing on Time in Range (TIR) is a game changer for lasting glucose management benefits.Medication adherence: Smartwatches can send reminders to patients to take medications on time or alert us when their doses are missed. This improves adherence and reduces complications from chronic conditions.Remote Monitoring: Wearables enable pharmacists to track patients' vital signs remotely. A wearable blood pressure monitor could alert a pharmacist if a hypertensive patient's readings are consistently high, prompting timely intervention.The path forwardSeveral steps are needed to fully realize the benefits of measurement and wearables in pharmacy practice:Integration into Workflow: Pharmacists should incorporate wearable data into patient consultations and care plans.Education: Patients need guidance on using wearables effectively and understanding their data.Collaboration: We should work with other healthcare providers to ensure wearable data informs comprehensive care plans. This is happening with CGM technology but should expand to other areas.For a glimpse into the future, look at health tech maker Withings and its conceptual smart mirror OMNIA. OMNIA promises a comprehensive view of your health. It combines its mirrored interface with a connected base equipped with a range of health sensors. Users get actionable insights from AI that analyzes and interprets key health metrics like heart health, nutrition trends, body composition, lung function, activity tracking, and sleep quality. It can sync with other health trackers, including smartwatches, blood pressure monitors, and smart beds, to consolidate data. Users interact with the mirror through touch controls or a built-in AI voice assistant, which provides real-time feedback, guidance, and recommendations. For advanced care, Omnia connects users with healthcare professionals for virtual consultations and data sharing.By embracing measurement and leveraging wearable technology, we can improve our well-being while delivering more personalized and effective patient care. The future of pharmacy includes harnessing data to drive better health outcomes—for ourselves and our patients.Manjit Hansra is a CDE and consultant pharmacist focused on providing tools to help pharmacists prevent and manage burnout. Subscribe to his newsletter HERE. References: Nearly one half of Canadians have made resolutions or goals for 2023New Report: Exercise Plays Key Role in Mental Health & Well-beingModerate exercise linked to reduced burnout and higher job satisfaction among employeesExercise intensity and longevity in men. The Harvard Alumni Health StudyPhysical activity and mental health: a systematic review and best-evidence synthesis of mediation and moderation studiesWork-life balance and health among pharmacists: physical activity, sleep quality, and general healthEffect of 7-minute workout on weight and body compositionCanadian Consensus on Clinical Pharmacy Key Performance Indicators: Quick Reference GuideWearable Technology Statistics By Market, Consumers And Region