Head injury--a survey of current practices in preventive health care counselling

This study examined whether primary care physicians provide education and counselling on head injury prevention as part of their routine health care discussions with patients.

A preventive health care practices survey was distributed to 678 physicians in the Central Virginia area. Data regarding respondents' age, gender, medical specialty, patient population and counselling practices were obtained.

Fifty-one per cent of those surveyed responded. Ninety-five per cent of physicians reported providing health care counselling 'in most cases' or 'commonly'. Less than half (46%) of physicians discussed head injury prevention with their patients. In contrast, almost all respondents (97%) discussed smoking. Physician age, specialty, and patient population did not affect head injury counselling practices.

Prevention strategies for head injury are discussed much less frequently than other health risks such as heart disease and cancer in the primary care setting. Strategies for educating primary care physicians on head injury should be considered in order to increase their efforts toward prevention.