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Most Australians say they don't receive healthy lifestyle guidance from their GP, according to new research, but is that true?
Australians are more likely to take action on lifestyle changes if they receive advice from their GP, according to new research, but patients claim they aren't having those discussions.
This study Australian Medical Journalused the Australian Bureau of Statistics' 2020-21 National Health Survey, where participants were asked about their health status, lifestyle risk factors and healthcare utilization.
The data analyzed showed that only 27% of smokers were advised to quit, 8% of heavy drinkers were advised to cut back on their alcohol intake, and 9% of those with an unhealthy diet were advised to reduce their intake of fruits and vegetables. He was told to eat more.
Of the 13,281 respondents, 20.1% reported drinking alcohol above the recommended maximum, 9.1% smoked, and 91.1% did not meet the minimum dietary recommendations for fruits and vegetables.
Compared to the previous year, participants were asked whether they had received any lifestyle advice from their GP, such as quitting smoking, reducing alcohol intake, losing weight, increasing physical activity, or improving diet, compared to the previous year.
They were also asked if there had been any progress in these areas over the past year.
Researchers said the data showed that people were more likely to make positive changes if they recalled receiving advice from their GP.
“Lifestyle advice from general practitioners can influence patients' health-related behaviors,” the researchers said.
For example, 8% of heavy drinkers reported that their doctor told them to cut down on alcohol, and 26% of them followed that advice.
In contrast, 19% of those who did not recall being encouraged to stop drinking by their GP reported that their doctor had encouraged them to stop drinking.
The study reported that the proportion of people who remembered receiving GP-led lifestyle advice was “low”.
However, Associate Professor Magdalena Simonis, a member of the RACGP Expert Committee – Quality Care (REC-QC), said: News GP This is not an “accurate depiction of the types of conversations” GPs have with patients.
“This is a classic example of data being interpreted out of the context of the reason for the consultation and the long-term relationship between the GP and the individual,” she says.
“Person-centered care means listening to people who come to us with problems.
“If you take a hard stance on smoking, exercise, diet or alcohol when you have severe depression, schizophrenia or chronic pain, you risk undermining trust in your GP and are vulnerable. Patients fear being criticized for their bad habits.
Associate Professor Simonis said it was important for GPs to provide patients with the information they were looking for during their consultation, rather than applying it to easily researchable situations.
“When women come in for cervical cancer screening, they are less likely to discuss issues with alcohol or smoking habits,” she says.
“If this were asked of people with chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, people who have lost weight, and women who are planning a pregnancy, I would expect the results to be very different.”
Meanwhile, Professor Mark Morgan, Chair of the REC–QC Committee, said: News GP While it is encouraging that people may be paying attention to their doctors' health advice, more detailed research tools are needed to demonstrate the “coverage and effectiveness of preventive activities in general practice”.
“In an ideal world, general practitioners and their multidisciplinary teams would work with patients to optimize self-care,” he said.
“Our electronic medical record will be a convenient way to document nuances in lifestyle factors.”
RACGP last year partnered with the Department of Health and Aged Care to launch Healthy Habits, a platform aimed at supporting GPs and other healthcare providers whose patients want to make positive lifestyle changes. developed.
The free digital health program is designed to increase patient participation levels and improve and monitor outcomes in achieving a healthy lifestyle.
Dr Simonis said GPs often feel like a “broken record” when encouraging behavior change in patients.
“Most of these conversations are best done after rapport and trust has been established,” she said.
“Despite what the statistics in this paper suggest, that is best achieved in partnership.
“Lifestyle modifications and behavioral changes require education and motivation on the part of the patient.”
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Chronic disease management Exercise General practitioner-patient relationship Health Healthy habits Lifestyle Nutrition Physical activity Preventive health Smoking
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