Health promotion outreach for rural family physicians: a feasibility study

This project examined the feasibility of using an educational representative, modeled in part on a drug detailing representative, to increase health promotion counseling by rural family physicians in east Texas. The physicians were offered, at no charge, materials for patients and training for themselves and their office staff on patient education regarding smoking, weight problems, sedentary living, and stress. Visits from the representative were accepted by 76 percent of the physicians, about half of whom requested training for themselves and/or their office staffs. A high degree of satisfaction with the training was expressed by trainees in follow-up interviews. Pretest data indicated that the physicians were using at least one counseling technique before the introduction of the intervention. Posttest data suggested that use of more effective counseling techniques and materials increased. Use of an educational representative when travel time and costs are minimized appears to merit further exploration.