Low-budget method for lifestyle improvement in primary care. Experiences from the Göteborg Health Profile Project.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To describe a self-administered preventive tool dealing with risk factors for cardiovascular disease and its effect with special reference to the question did the project involve persons most in need of lifestyle changes? DESIGN: Screening questions offered to consecutive patients and followed by a self-administered health profile, intervention, and follow-up. Setting. Primary healthcare area of Askim, Sweden. SUBJECTS: Men and women between 18 and 65 years of age visiting GPs for acute disorders or planned visits during a three-month period were offered screening questions and, if wanted, a health profile. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Participation rates, effects on lifestyle factors. RESULTS: There was an overrepresentation of subjects with a less favourable lifestyle among those who asked for the health profile. There was good agreement for all variables between self-estimation in screening questions and grading in the basal health profile. Lifestyle improvement was observed for dietary habits, physical activity, and mental stress at the one year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that a relevant selection of persons with a "risk profile" can be made by means of simple screening questions. The pedagogic model using self-administered health profile in combination with own responsibility seems to be a tool for low-budget preventive work in primary healthcare.