title: Increasing Knowledge and Confidence in Behavioral Change: A Pilot Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess whether and how effectively an interactive presentation about lifestyle medicine could impact the knowledge and attitudes of medical students to prepare them for managing chronic conditions in their patients. Chronic diseases are increasingly prevalent and problematic. Although chronic disease management involves lifestyle modification, few physicians are adequately trained in effective motivational interventions.
  
  
  METHODS
  We surveyed first- and second-year Harvard Medical School students in October 2015 before and after a presentation on lifestyle medicine and quantified changes in their knowledge, attitudes/confidence, and skills.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Medical students learned the basics of behavioral change after a 1-hour presentation, and their confidence with regard to implementing interventions increased. Median scores of confidence in counseling patients on lifestyle changes improved as did their ability to counsel patients on exercise, nutrition, sleep, stress management, and smoking cessation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  After a brief intervention, medical students can learn principles of behavioral management and how to implement the skills with patients suffering from chronic illnesses.
authors.affiliation: Harvard Medical School, Boston, and Stroke Institute for Research and Recovery, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Frates
authors.affiliation: Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Ryan C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.affiliation: University of Washington School of Medicine, Harvard Extension School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Simeon
authors.affiliation: Clinical Psychology, Harvard Extension School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Tracie
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: McCargo
authors.affiliation: Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard College, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Fruit St, WRN 605, Boston, MA 02114. tstern@partners.org.|Avery D. Weisman Psychiatry Consultation Service and Office for Clinical Careers, Massachusetts General Hospital and Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Theodore A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Stern
mesh_terms: D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000193:education* / Q000379:methods*; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D003376:Counseling / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods; D019468:Disease Management; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000379:methods*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors