Family practice physicians' perceptions and practices regarding health promotion for the elderly

This study assessed 321 family practice physicians' perceptions and practices regarding health promotion in the elderly; specifically, whether health promotion is perceived to be beneficial for this segment of the population. A random sample of 250 male and 250 female members of the American Academy of Family Physicians was surveyed. The internal reliability of the questionnaire was assessed, yielding a Cronbach alpha of .84. Respondents were 46% male and 54% female, and 67% of them had completed a residency program. Three-fourths (77%) of the respondents were between 25 and 50 years of age. The majority believed that health promotion counseling is of value to patients of all ages (88%) and that medical schools should devote more attention to preventive medicine (69%). These physicians identified lack of third-party payment, lack of sufficient staff, lack of competence in prescribing prevention programs for the elderly, and finding counseling the elderly about preventive health issues not professionally gratifying as barriers to health promotion of the elderly. All health promotion practices but one listed on the questionnaire were perceived as important by at least half the physicians. Until compensation for health promotion is available and physicians perceive themselves as competent concerning health promotion in the elderly, it is likely their clinical practices and recommendations will lag behind their favorable attitudes toward the topic.