title: Lifestyle consultation in general practice--the doctor's toolbox: a qualitative focus group study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  GPs consider individual lifestyle counselling as part of their obligation. There is a lack of knowledge about how such counselling is done.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate what tools GPs utilize in individual consultations concerning lifestyle change.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative analysis of six focus groups with 50 GPs sharing and commenting each other's case stories.
  
  
  RESULTS
  To enhance change of lifestyle, GPs adjusted the organization of their practice and utilized visualization tools. They established doctor-patient relationships based on shared decision making and trust, and gave their patients advice and tips to accomplish change, but also used paternalistic approaches and rhetoric manipulation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GPs use a variety of tools in consultations about lifestyle change. A patient-centred approach is shown, but GPs also deliberately use distressing communication tools.
authors.affiliation: Branch of General Practice, Institute of Public Health and Social Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway. eabil@broadpark.no
authors.forename: Eirik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Abildsnes
authors.forename: Liv T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Walseth
authors.forename: Signe A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Flottorp
authors.forename: Per S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Stensland
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods*; D005194:Family Practice / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017144:Focus Groups; D058005:General Practitioners; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires