Influencing health behaviour: how significant is the general practitioner?

Abstract

IN this paper we examine the role of the general practitioner in health education for primary pre vention. We examine the features of the general practitioner setting which make it so amenable to the practice of health education, and review the evidence from studies which have attempted to evaluate the effectiveness of health education given by general practitioners. Finally, we examine the compatibility of the doctor-patient relationship in present-day general practice with what is required for effective health education.