Recorded presentation

Marcia G. Ory, PhD, MPH, School of Rural Public Health - Department of Social and Behavioral Health, Texas A & M University System Health Science Center, 3000 Briarcrest Drive, Suite 310, Bryan, TX 77802, (979) 845-2387, mory@srph.tamushsc.edu, Jay Jezierski, MPH, Community Health Development Program, School of Rural Public Health, Texas A&M University, 1103 University Drive, Suite 100, College Station, TX 77840, Melinda K Jezierski, PhD, School of Medicine, Texas A&M University System, 888, 888, College Station, TX 77840, and Paula J. Yuma, MPH, School of Rural Public Health, Texas A&M University System, 1103 University Drive Suite 100, College Station, TX 77840.

Health care providers can be critical change agents in helping patients initiate and maintain healthy lifestyles. Yet, self-report data indicates the majority of medical encounters do not include attention to lifestyle issues. This observational study of 116 older patients’ primary care visits provides a more accurate picture of lifestyle dialogue by documenting the extent and nature of actual conversations. The visits averaged 18 minutes in length, however, less than one minute of this time was devoted to physical activity (PA) discussion (58 seconds). In 54% of the cases, physicians initiated the discussion and were limited to the physician simply asking about behavior engagement, versus utilizing the full range of the 5 A’s of behavioral counseling (asking, assessing, assisting, agreeing or arranging), as recommended by the United States Prevention Services Task Force. In addition to examining PA discussion, the research team also focused on analyzing physician-patient discussion of a number of other topics central to the health and lives of older adults. Findings showed an average of 2.47 minutes of the visit time was spent talking about medications versus other lifestyle factors. Patients in this sample received minimal attention to other lifestyle factors, with an average of 50 seconds for nutrition, 18 seconds for smoking, and 18 seconds for social activity. Given the importance of lifestyle to a multitude of health and functional conditions, it is critical to encourage discussion around these issues by training both physicians and older patients to communicate and counsel effectively in primary care medical encounters.

Learning Objectives:

• To understand importance of doctor-patient interactions for changing lifestyle behaviors.
• To document the amount of time spent discussing different lifestyle bahaviors.
• To identify the extent to which lifestyle discussions are consistent with behavioral change principles.

Keywords: Aging, Primary Care

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation