How rheumatologists and patients with rheumatoid arthritis discuss exercise and the influence of discussions on exercise prescriptions.

Objective: To describe how patients and their rheumatologists discuss exercise, and to identify predictors of exercise prescriptions.

Methods: Twenty-five rheumatologists and 132 patients with rheumatoid arthritis completed questionnaires and were audiotaped during a subsequent clinic visit. Chi-square and t-tests assessed associations between variables.