login
Become a member
Quick Registration
Full Registration Benefits -
Free Homepages for Doctors
Free Homepages for Hospitals
Free Homepages for Medical Conference
Free Homepages for NGO's
Personal Health Record Creation
Access to all Medical Slides
Access to all Jobs & Products Sale
Counseling for Obesity and Smoking Hindered by Costs
However, because such counseling is typically not covered by medical insurance, cost can be a barrier. In a study published in the March 2010 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, researchers from Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, found that when primary care clinicians and community counselors collaborated to offer free counseling services to patients, there was an overwhelming positive response. Yet, when the same services were offered at a cost to the patient, there was a significant drop in participation.
An electronic linkage system (eLinkS) was used to prompt healthcare providers to suggest intensive healthcare counseling for adult patients with unhealthy behaviors. eLinkS then helped to facilitate and automate referrals and communication between primary care practices and community programs. During a 5-week period when funding was available, 5679 patients were evaluated, 1860 had at least one unhealthy behavior (triggering an eLinkS prompt), and 407 (21.8%) were referred for intensive counseling.
In a 3-week period after funding was exhausted, 2510 patients visited the practices, 729 triggered an eLinkS prompt, but only 5 (0.7%) were referred for intensive counseling. Compared to the coverage period, the overall referral rate for patients with an unhealthy behavior decreased by 97%. Practice nurses asked 22% fewer patients about health behaviors (37% vs 29%). When prompted by eLinkS, clinicians offered referrals to 79% fewer patients (29% vs 6%). If a referral was offered, 81% fewer patients accepted (76% vs 14%).
|
|
|
More News on: Bariatric Surgery, Obesity, Health Hazards of Smoking, Smoking And Cancer, Smoking And Tobacco, Diabetes - Essentials, Binge Eating : The Pleasure and Pain, Bulimia Nervosa, Ideal Body Weight-Adults, Smoking Risk
 Comment & Contribute
|
Medwonders Health Network
- Health News Index
 | Quiz on Smoking What are the smoking facts? Read about the effects of smoking by participating in the quiz. 
|
- News Quick Links
 |
Obesity
Complete Medindia Resources
|
| News Categories: |
| » | 'No Scanty Garbs' Campaign UAE Women |
| » | Asian Casinos Combat Crooks |
| » | Dapper Eyewear Records All Within Sight |
| » | Rock Music at Concerts may Lead to Hearing Problems |
| » | Construction Of 'Intelligent' Robot That Designs Tools on Its Own |
| More Life Style News | |
|
