Evaluation of the Health Promoting Practices Project

Objectives: In a patient-centred healthcare model, patients are being encouraged to take control of their own healthcare and participate in a collaborative relationship with their healthcare provider to ensure the best possible health outcomes. The purpose of the Health Promoting Practices project was to develop a voluntary health promotion framework through which health professionals could positively influence health behaviours of their patients.
Methods: Ethics approval was obtained from the University of Melbourne. Using convenience sampling, dental practitioners and physiotherapists participated in a state-wide survey exploring attitudes to health promotion. Eighteen practices were involved in implementing the framework, which included recruiting patients to complete a Health Self-Assessment, and comparing this with basic demographic factors and health attitudes. Process evaluation involved a 12 month follow-up survey to participating practitioners.
Results: Compared to population-wide health indicators, patients in this study (n=498) were more likely to achieve the recommended behaviours in the areas of healthy eating, physical activity, alcohol consumption, and tobacco use. The patient health self-assessment was viewed by patients as a helpful indicator of goal behaviours, and was helpful in guiding discussions with their healthcare professional to relevant areas. Dental practitioners (n=337) and physiotherapists (n=367) generally believed that it was part of their role to engage in health promotion with patients. Dental practitioners were strong on promoting healthy eating and smoking cessation, while physiotherapists almost always discussed physical activity with patients; however, neither group regularly discussed alcohol consumption with patients. Identified barriers to health promotion included a lack of time, no remuneration, feeling that it would not benefit the patient, and a lack of health promotion knowledge.
Conclusions: Health promotion was generally viewed positively by patients and practitioners. However, there may be opportunities to increase practitioner confidence in delivering health promotion messages, through the provision of education and supporting resources.