PHYSICIAN ADVICE TO REDUCE CHRONIC DISEASE RISK-FACTORS

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that physicians adv ise their patients regarding smoking cessation, weight loss, and physi cal inactivity. Few studies, however, have assessed the extent to whic h persons with these risk factors receive advice from their physicians . Using data from the 1990-1991 Missouri Behavioral Risk Factor Survei llance System (BRFSS), a random digit-dialed telephone survey of adult s, we identified Missouri residents with one or more of these modifiab le risk factors. We examined whether these persons reported being advi sed by their physicians to modify their behavior(s) within the past ye ar. Of the 2,791 respondents, 764 (26%) smoked, 1,720 (59%) were seden tary, and 686 (23%) were overweight. Five hundred and thirty-five smok ers reported having a routine checkup within the past year, but only 2 24 (42%) reported being advised by their physicians to stop smoking. O f the 1,246 sedentary persons who had a routine checkup within the pas t year, 192 (15%) reported being told by their physicians to exercise more. Of the 521 overweight respondents who had a routine checkup with in the past year, 225 (43%) reported being advised to lose weight. Phy sician advice for these risk factors was less frequently reported amon g men, blacks, younger persons, and persons from rural areas. Although most Missouri residents with these modifiable risk factors reported s eeing their physicians within the past year, less than half reported t hat they received advice from their physicians to alter their risk beh avior(s). Further efforts are necessary to increase the effectiveness of physician advice for at-risk patients about quitting smoking, losin g weight, and increasing physical activity.