PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Peter de Schweinitz
TI  - One Cold Autumn Day
AID  - 10.1370/afm.1781
DP  - 2015 May 01
TA  - The Annals of Family Medicine
PG  - 279--281
VI  - 13
IP  - 3
4099  - http://www.annfammed.org/content/13/3/279.short
4100  - http://www.annfammed.org/content/13/3/279.full
SO  - Ann Fam Med2015 May 01; 13
AB  - Behavioral change is at the heart of effective primary care, but when patients don’t change, how do we account for our days? In this personal essay, I relate an encounter with a patient who wants to quit smoking, lose weight, and control her diabetes. I am discouraged when she deflects my recommendations, but a colleague’s comment encourages a deeper inquiry. Knowing the patient’s story and deepening the conversation, however, do not guarantee change. The experience reminds me why patience, humility, and faith are core values of the primary care physician.