Physician Counseling and Patient Risk Factors for Chronic Disease: Training Resident Physicians to Promote Physical Activity: A Randomized Trial
Complete Project
Title:
Physician Counseling and Patient Risk Factors for Chronic Disease: Training Resident Physicians to Promote Physical Activity: A Randomized Trial
Status:
Completed
Topic:
Physical Activity
Funding Source:
American Heart Association
Funding Period:
7/01 – 12/03
Study Design:
Randomized Controlled Trial
Purpose:
To evaluate the impact of a novel and relatively simple training program in behavioral counseling techniques (the Pressure System Model) on physicians’ counseling behavior, and to demonstrate that patients seen by physicians with specialized training in counseling techniques show greater increases in physical activity as compared to patients seen by physicians who have not received this training.
Further Study Details:
Seven hospitals in the Yale-affiliated residency program participated in this study. The hospitals were randomly assigned to either participate in the Pressure System Model (PSM) training program or not. The first-year medical residents working at those hospitals assigned to PSM training were given a series of 4 training sessions, after which time they were instructed to use the Pressure System Model with their patients. Outcomes of interest included physician counseling, physician and patient perception, and patient physical activity; these outcomes were assessed by the use of questionnaires.
Findings:
Results of this study suggested the need for physicians to adequately assess the presence of risk factors such as inadequate diet and sedentary lifestyle and discuss them with their patients during routine encounters. Based on their reported readiness to change, many patients may be receptive to any counseling the physician might then provide. The PSM-based behavioral counseling training program shows preliminary promise for increasing physical activity among healthy adults in primary care practices. The intervention is suitable for replication in diverse primary care settings.
Eligibility:
First-year medical residents based at 7 Connecticut hospitals/clinics within the Yale-affiliated Internal Medicine Residency system and the patients assigned to these residents.
Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center