THE PROCESS AND METHODS OF HEALTH COUNSELING BY PRIMARY HEALTH-CARE PERSONNEL IN FINLAND - A NATIONAL SURVEY

A stratified random sample of 53 Finnish health centers was selected, and representative samples of their physicians, nurses and physiothera pists were surveyed by questionnaire on the frequency of their use of health education methods in health counseling and their perception of the ease vs. difficulty of implementing the stages of the process of l ifestyle counseling. Overall, the assessment of the enabling and reinf orcing factors in client health behavior (social relationships and phy sical environment), the translation of these factors into a behavior c hange program and the evaluation of such programs were seen as difficu lt by all three categories of health care quite a limited selection of education methods and self-evident motivational prompts were used. Th e physiotherapists regarded the process of lifestyle counseling in the ir specialty, exercise counseling, as easier to conduct and they used a more varied selection of methods than the other health care personne l groups. The findings indicate a need for further in-service educatio n for Finnish health center professionals on health education methods as well a need for the restructuring of the care system to allow bette r opportunities for the full realization of the process of health coun seling.