Article Figures & Data
Tables
Additional Files
The Article in Brief
Coordination of Health Behavior Counseling in Primary Care
Deborah J. Cohen , and colleagues
Background Primary care practices may be well-suited to coordinate counseling for patients in need of health behavior change. Little is known, however, about how to implement such coordination effectively. This study examines barriers and facilitators to coordinating health behavior counseling in primary care.
What This Study Found A combination of in-practice health risk assessment and brief counseling, plus referral with outreach to a valued and known counseling resource, is the best way to consistently coordinate care and encourage follow-through. Researchers evaluating data collected by 9 practice-based research networks in the national Prescription for Health Program found this approach led to improvement in patients� health behaviors.
Implications
- The authors call for implementation of easy-to-use point-of-delivery reminders and decision support tools to help facilitate the coordination of health behavior counseling.