Health behavior counseling at annual exams

To determine if patients expected and desired health behavior discussions at annual exams, and if these discussions motivated high-risk patients to modify a health behavior.

1213 patients seen for an annual exam at Gundersen Clinic were sent a survey. Patients were asked if discussions about weight, exercise, tobacco use and stress occurred at their exam. Patients were also asked if the discussions were expected and desired and if the discussions motivated them to modify a health behavior.

571 surveys were returned. Over 50% of high-risk patients for each health behavior had a discussion. Patients who were overweight, obese, smoked or had excess stress were more likely to want and expect discussions than lower risk counterparts. Obese and overweight patients were also more likely to report being motivated to maintain or lose weight.

Patients in need of weight, smoking and stress management counseling expected and desired behavior discussions and were motivated to modify their behavior.