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Does provider prevention orientation influence female patients' preventive practices?
K J Greenlund1, N L Keenan, L A Anderson
1Division of Adult and Community Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30341-3724, USA. keg9@cdc.gov
American Journal of Preventive Medicine
|July 29, 2000
Summary
Provider encouragement for preventive behaviors matters. Women who perceived their doctor encouraged multiple healthy habits were more likely to adopt those behaviors, especially lifestyle changes.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Preventive Medicine
- Health Behavior Research
Background:
- Provider encouragement influences patient adherence to preventive behaviors.
- The impact of a provider's comprehensive preventive approach on patient engagement remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if older women are more likely to adopt a recommended preventive behavior when they perceive their healthcare provider encourages multiple preventive measures.
- To examine the association between perceived provider encouragement for specific preventive behaviors and patient adherence.
Main Methods:
- Survey of 1119 women aged 50-79 in a health maintenance organization.
- Assessed associations between provider encouragement for post-menopausal hormone use, physical activity, fecal occult blood testing (FOBT), and flexible sigmoidoscopy, and adherence to guidelines.
Main Results:
- Encouragement for physical activity was linked to higher adherence if the provider also encouraged other measures (OR=1.99 for one other, OR=2.38 for two others).
- Adequate counseling for post-menopausal hormone use increased with encouragement for at least two other preventive measures.
- Adherence to FOBT and sigmoidoscopy was associated with encouragement for those specific tests, not broader encouragement.
Conclusions:
- A healthcare provider's overall preventive strategy may significantly impact patient adoption of recommended practices, particularly for lifestyle-related behaviors.
- Perceived provider support for multiple preventive actions enhances patient engagement in health recommendations.