Adoption and implementation of physical activity and dietary counseling by community health center providers and nurses.
BACKGROUND
Primary care providers are expected to provide lifestyle counseling, yet many barriers exist. Few studies report on adoption and implementation in routine practice. This study reports training, adoption, and implementation of an intervention to promote physical activity (PA) and dietary counseling in community health centers.


METHODS
Providers (n = 30) and nurses (n = 28) from 9 clinics were invited to participate. Adopters completed CD-ROM training in stage-matched, patient-centered counseling and goal setting. Encounters were audio recorded. A subsample was coded for fidelity.


RESULTS
Fifty-seven percent of providers and nurses adopted the program. Provider counseling was seen in 66% and nurse goal setting in 58% of participant (N = 266) encounters, although audio recordings were lower. Duration of provider counseling and nurse goal setting was 4.9 ± 4.5 and 7.3 ± 3.8 minutes, respectively. Most PA (80%) and diet (94%) goals were stage-appropriate. Although most providers discussed at least 1 behavioral topic, some topics (eg, self-efficacy, social support) were rarely covered.


CONCLUSIONS
A sizeable percentage of providers and nurses completed training, rated it favorably, and delivered lifestyle counseling, although with variable fidelity. With low implementation cost and limited office time required, this model has the potential to be disseminated to improve counseling rates in primary care.
Wilcox
Sara
S
Dept of Exercise Science, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA.
Parra-Medina
Deborah
D
Felton
Gwen M
GM
Poston
Mary Beth
MB
McClain
Amanda
A
D001741:Black or African American; D016251:CD-ROM; D003151:Community Health Centers; D003152:Community Health Nursing; D015444:Exercise; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006284:Health Plan Implementation; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011320:Primary Health Care; D013022:South Carolina; D016387:Women's Health