Association of Primary Care providers Health Habits with Lifestyle Counseling to Hypertensive Elderly Patient

Ihab Hajjar,Jane Kotchen,John E Lacy,Brandy Frost

doi:10.32398/cjhp.v4i4.1991

Abstract

We were interested in studying the association between personal health habits of healthcare providers and their beliefs and practices of lifestyle counseling to elderly hypertensive patients. We conducted a national anonymous cross sectional survey of physicians and nurse practitioners providing primary care. The survey was developed to assess providers’ beliefs and practices of lifestyle counseling as well as personal habits. Beliefs about counseling were assessed by (a) perceived available time, (b) perceived skill, and (c) perceived effectiveness of lifestyle counseling. Reported lifestyle counseling practice were assessed by reported frequency of (a) obtaining lifestyle habits and (b) providing lifestyle counseling to elderly hypertensive patients. We mailed 7,500 mailed surveys and received 774. Providers who reported healthier lifestyle habits reported that they more frequently obtain lifestyle history (p=.004) and provide lifestyle counseling (p

Highlights

The elderly population continues to carry the highest burden of hypertension and cardiovascular disease
We defined a primary care provider as “a physician or nurse practitioner who has an active membership in the American Medical Association (AMA) or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioner (AANP).”
The theoretical framework of this study proposes lifestyle habits of the primary care provider impacts both counseling beliefs and patterns, and counseling beliefs impact counseling patterns

Summary

Introduction

The elderly population continues to carry the highest burden of hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Uncontrolled hypertension translates to increased cardiovascular events and mortality (Chobanian et al, 2003). Poor lifestyle, such as unhealthy diets, low levels of physical activity and obesity, contributes to this high hypertension burden. This burden is modifiable (Shah & Cook, 2001). In 1998, data from the National Health Interview Survey showed that close to half of patients with hypertension have not been counseled on losing weight or increasing physical activity to lower blood pressure (Egede & Zheng, 2002)

Methods

Results

Conclusion