[Do you counsel your patients on their health behaviors?].
OBJECTIVE
To document counselling practices of general practitioners concerning lifestyle habits in the Capitale-Nationale region (Quebec City and area), from the patient's perspective.


METHODS
A cross-sectional telephone survey was carried out in 2006 among 482 patients (18-74 years of age) recruited in 11 medical clinics employing 84 general practitioners.


RESULTS
At the visit immediately following the recruitment, 37% of participants reported having discussed smoking with their physician, 10% fruit and vegetable consumption and 33% physical activity. The prevalence of counselling on lifestyle habits increased as a function of pre-existing pathology. Participants said they were favourable to receiving advice on their habits in a proportion that varied from 82% (walk-in clinics) to 99% (health check) and 85% of them would modify their lifestyle habits if the advice was given by a physician (only 76% among smokers, p < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Even if they play a key role in chronic disease prevention, lifestyle habits were discussed in only 10 to 37% of medical visits and especially with patients who already had chronic disease or associated risk factors. Patients were very receptive to receiving advice on their lifestyle habits, even in walk-in clinics. It is now imperative to support general practitioners in the promotion of healthy lifestyle habits with all patients.
Sauvageau
Chantal
C
Santé publique de la Capitale-Nationale, Québec. chantal_sauvageau@ssss.gouv.qc.ca
Groulx
Stéphane
S
Pelletier
Anne
A
Ouakki
Manale
M
Dubé
Eve
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D037001:Directive Counseling; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D010821:Physicians, Family; D011314:Preventive Health Services; D011792:Quebec; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires