Direct observation of physician counseling on dietary habits and exercise: Patient, physician, and office correlates

Nadeem A. Anis, Rebecca E. Lee, Edward F. Ellerbeck, Niaman Nazir, K. Allen Greiner, Jasjit S. Ahluwalia

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

71 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background. This study documented the frequency and correlates of directly observed physicians' counseling on dietary habits and exercise in private medical practices. Methods. Trained medical students observed physician, office, and patient characteristics in 4344 patient visits in 38 nonmetropolitan primary care physician offices. Results. Counseling rates ranged from 0% in some offices to 55% in others. Physicians counseled patients on dietary habits in 25% of visits and exercise in 20% of visits. Physicians counseled new patients 30% more often than established ones (P < 0.05). Dietary counseling was associated with having dietary and exercise brochures in the office (P < 0.05). When counseling occurred, physicians (rather than patients) initiated both dietary and exercise counseling 61% of the time. Counseling for dietary habits was associated with counseling for exercise (P < 0.05); some physicians may be more likely to give preventive counseling. Counseling was not associated with physicians' age, years in practice, or number of patients per week. Conclusion. Physician counseled patients in 20-25% of visits, and this was not affected by physician characteristics. Results suggest that physician counseling protocols and other office prompts should be developed and promoted. Strategies targeting both physician and the health care system may improve the consistency of physician preventive counseling practices.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)198-202
Number of pages5
JournalPreventive medicine
Volume38
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2004

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Partial funding for this project was provided through the following grants: The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Generalist Physicians Faculty Scholars award (#032686); JH Baker Trust of La Crosse, Kansas; Kansas Association for Medically Underserved.

Keywords

  • Diet
  • Exercise
  • Physician's practice patterns
  • Preventive health services

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