Self-Reported Patient Compliance With Physician Advised Lifestyle Behavior Changes Among Adults With Musculoskeletal...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Services Research
• Behavioral Medicine

Background:

• Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) affect approximately half of US adults, with risk factors including poor diet, obesity, and inactivity.
• Lifestyle interventions can reduce MSD risk factors, but the impact of physician advice on patient behavior change is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between physician advice for lifestyle changes and reported behavior change in patients with MSD.
• To examine how patient education levels influence compliance with physician recommendations for behavior modification.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the 2017 National Health Interview Survey (N=2,672 adults with MSD).
• Analyzed physician recommendations (physical activity, diet, weight loss) and patient-reported behavior changes.
• Employed adjusted logistic regression models to assess the role of education level in compliance.

Main Results:

• Patients advised by physicians on physical activity, diet, or weight loss were more likely to attempt behavior change.
• Higher education levels were positively associated with compliance with physician advice for physical activity.
• Among patients not receiving physician advice, education level positively correlated with behavior change attempts.

Conclusions:

• Physician recommendations are significant predictors of reported behavior change in individuals with MSD.
• Patient education level plays a complex role in the association between physician advice and behavior change.
• Further research is needed to explore other factors influencing compliance, such as physician communication strategies.