title: Behavioral interventions for office-based care: behavior change.
abstract: Family physicians play an important role in identifying and treating the behavioral etiologies of morbidity and mortality. Changing behavior is a challenging process that begins with identifying a patient's readiness to change. Interventions, such as motivational interviewing, are used to increase a patient's desire to change, and cognitive behavioral therapy can be initiated to increase a patient's likelihood of change, particularly if barriers are identified. After patients embark on change, family physicians are uniquely positioned to connect them to self-help programs, more intensive psychotherapy, and newer technology-based support programs, and to provide repeated, brief, positive reinforcement. Specific behavioral interventions that can be effective include computerized smoking cessation programs; electronic reminders and support delivered by family physicians or other clinicians for weight loss; linkage to community-based programs for seniors; increased length and demands of in-school programs to support exercise participation by children; and access reduction education to prevent firearm injury.
authors.affiliation: ReGenesis Health Care, PO Box 5158, Spartanburg, SC 29304, mdelfinojr@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Delfino
authors.affiliation: Louisiana State University Medical Center Family Practice Residency, 200 W. Esplanade Avenue Suite 409, Kenner, LA 70065, mlarze@lsuhsc.edu.
authors.forename: Michele McCarthy
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Larzelere
mesh_terms: D001519:Behavior; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003142:Communication; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005194:Family Practice / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015438:Health Behavior; D009042:Motivation