Use of a 'Health Habits Questionnaire' to improve health promotion counseling
D. J. Madlon-Kay, P. G. Harper and C. J. Reif
Department of Family and Community Medicine, St Paul, Ramsey Medical Center, USA.
A 10-item patient "Health Habits Questionnaire" was developed that included
counseling topics recommended by the US Preventive Services Task Force.
Patient education brochures for each of these topics were designed and
displayed in examination rooms. The questionnaires were to be given to
every adult presenting to a family medicine residency clinic for a physical
examination. Charts of patients receiving physical examinations were
audited. Of 368 visits, 206 questionnaires were completed. Patients who
completed the questionnaires were significantly more likely to have chart
documentation of counseling about seat-belt use, exercise, stress, alcohol
and other drug use, and dental health. The topic areas that had no
significant improvement in documentation had higher counseling
documentation rates than those that improved. The Health Habits
Questionnaire appears to be a useful tool to improve counseling
documentation, particularly for those habits that may otherwise receive
little counseling.
