GENERAL-PRACTITIONERS PROMOTION OF HEALTHY LIFE-STYLES - WHAT PATIENTS THINK

The study examined the prevalence of cigarette smoking, alcohol consum ption, exercising to keep fit and dieting to lose weight among general practice patients, and patients' perceptions of the role of the gener al practitioner in advising about life style. A cross-sectional survey using a self-administered questionnaire was completed by 13 017 patie nts aged 18 to 70 years who were attending one of 119 general practiti oners from 40 group practices in metropolitan Sydney over a six- to ei ght-week period. More women than men reported dieting to lose weight,j ust over half of the men and women were exercising regularly to keep f it, 35 per cent of men and 29 per cent of women reported smoking, and 12 per cent of men and 10 per cent of women were drinking alcohol at l evels considered hazardous or harmful. More young people were smoking, drinking hazardously or harmfully, dieting to lose weight and exercis ing than the older age groups, and their smoking rates exceeded those of the general population. Most patients reported that general practit ioners should be interested in their life-style behaviours, particular ly smoking. Substantially fewer patients (particularly women who drank excessively) reported receiving advice about their habits. General pr actitioners were more likely to give advice when smoking and drinking levels were very high. There were discrepancies between patients' expe ctations of the doctor's role in promoting healthy life styles, and th eir likelihood of receiving advice. Doctors could reduce the diseases associated with unhealthy practices. Developments in medical training in the 1990s may extend the way they engage in advising on issues of l ife style.