Health promotion in general practice

Health promotion is accepted as a desirable and increasingly necessary component of contemporary general practice. Discussion of health promotion in the family medicine setting has neglected to seek the views of General Practitioners. Their contact with patients places them in a unique position to observe the health promotion needs of their patients, and assign priorities to these. A sample of practitioners in the Eastern Sydney Area Health Service was interviewed to ascertain the major areas of preventive medicine needed by their patients. Information was also sought on the General Practitioners' use and views on health promotion services already available in the Eastern Sydney Area Health Service. General Practitioners were receptive to discussion of health promotion and disease prevention activities. Cardiovascular disease was clearly identified as the major area for preventative work for GPs. The large scope for health promotion in general practice ranged from women's health to parent effectiveness training. Although GPs generally viewed favourably the health promotion services provided by the ESAHS limitations on their use were cited.