HEALTH PROMOTION PRACTICES AMONG PHYSICIANS

Personal belief concerning both the validity of health promotion and t he physician's ability to influence patient behavior may affect how mu ch effort a physician spends on health promotion strategies. We assess ed these beliefs through a mail survey to physicians practicing in a p redominantly rural southern state in 1987 (n = 83) and 1991 (n = 96). Response rates in both studies exceeded 75%. The instrument was obtain ed from similar studies conducted in Massachusetts in 1981 and Marylan d in 1983. Between 1987 and 1991 we found slight improvements in the p erceived importance of many health behaviors, but significant improvem ent was observed in the importance of reducing intake of dietary satur ated fat (66% in 1987 to 80% in 1991; P < .05). Less than 10% of the p hysicians thought they could be ''very successful'' in modifying patie nts' behaviors. However, in 1991 physicians perceived that their abili ty to be ''very successful'' in helping patients to modify their behav ior would increase threefold (8%-24% for exercise; 4%-18% for smoking) if given appropriate support. Although the type of appropriate suppor t was not identified, the credibility of physician's advice in promoti ng health changes is important. These results suggest that efforts sho uld be made to provide support to physicians who are inclined to discu ss health behavior changes with their patients.