Integrating Health Improvement and Prevention in Urgent and Emergency Care (UEC).
5. Ways to approach the conversation
UEC professionals do not always find it easy to ask people about lifestyle factors as part of the clinical assessment.
It has been demonstrated however that most patients are receptive to share this information and are expecting to be asked about their lifestyle factors.
Asking a simple question as part of the assessment might provide a gateway to discussion around lifestyle factors, which in turn may lead to positive change.
The Making Every Contact Count (MECC) initiative highlights the importance of engaging patients in conversation regarding their lifestyle, by addressing modifiable risk factors.
Transcript
I'm an international medical graduate and I try to make sure that I'm aware of the local pathways for referring patients with behaviors of alcohol, smoking, weight management. And I find it easier to talk to my patients regarding these lifestyle behaviors when I know where I'm able to direct them for further restorative health support.
This way, I do not need to know all the answers.Transcript
Hi, I'm Celia. I am the DREEAM clinical research lead.
Originally, I thought it was going to be quite daunting to talk to patients about their lifestyle factors. Just because I thought that they might think that I was judging them. But actually, the responses have been really positive.
Patients are more than willing to engage in lifestyle factors about alcohol and smoking, for example, and they are willing to be signposted to areas that could help them.