Who is targeted for lifestyle advice? A cross-sectional survey in two general practices

Recent health promotion guidelines reimbursed primary health care teams for targeting lifestyle advice to patients at risk of cardiovascular disease. However, it is unclear whether primary health care teams do target advice, who is targeted, and whether the advice is acted upon.

To assess which factors predict the targeting and recall of lifestyle advice.

A total of 370 patients with, and 192 without, a computer record of risk factors for cardiovascular disease (hypertension, diabetes, ischaemic heart disease/myocardial infarction/angina, a body mass index > or = 30) from two contrasting Wessex practices were sent a postal questionnaire about medical conditions, recall of lifestyle advice, current lifestyle, and their perceptions about the health of their lifestyle.

Seventy-seven per cent of patients responded. There was good agreement between listed risk factors and patients reporting a risk factor (kappa = 0.60), which was similar for both sexes and better in older age groups. Recall of lifestyle advice was not significantly affected by practice, but was more likely in patients with listed risk factors (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 4.62, 95% confidence intervals [CI] = 2.89-7.37) and in men (OR = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.07-2.52), and less likely in older age groups (age < or = 64 years = 1.00; 65-74 years = 0.47, 95% CI = 0.27-0.81; 75+ years = 0.34, 95% CI = 0.20-0.60). Of patients with listed risk factors, 27% could not recall having received any advice, and recall varied with medical condition. Only 40% of patients with reported high blood pressure recalled being given advice about salt. Those who recalled advice were more likely to report a healthier current lifestyle. Of those with unhealthy lifestyles, 30-50% were unaware that their lifestyle was unhealthy.

Lifestyle advice is not recalled for some important risk factors, and some patients are unaware of their unhealthy lifestyle. Although advice is being preferentially targeted to those with risk factors, women and older patients recall advice less. Research is needed to assess the cost-effectiveness of advice for both sexes and different ages.