Effectiveness of dietary intervention in general practice
Open Access
- 1 June 1997
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Elsevier in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
- Vol. 65 (6) , 1933S-1938S
- https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/65.6.1933s
Abstract
The scope for dietary intervention in general practice is substantial. The three most prevalent conditions for which general practitioners are likely to give dietary advice are hypertension, functional digestive disorders, and ischemic heart disease. As well as clinical diseases, risk factors such as raised plasma cholesterol concentrations also provide opportunities for dietary intervention. But resources are limited. If a general practitioner or nurse spends 5 min of a 10-min consultation on dietary advice, there is 5 min less to spend on the rest of the consultation. Research studies in general practice show that small changes in plasma cholesterol concentrations can be achieved by dietary interventions. Intensive intervention can also influence salt intake to a small extent. However, the most important, potentially cost-effective roles for the general practitioner in health promotion are the legitimization and reinforcement of public health information by brief advice and the distribution of written material. Secondary and tertiary prevention is a priority in general practice and may entail use of drugs, but drugs are not a desirable solution for the unhealthy diets of healthy people.Keywords
This publication has 13 references indexed in Scilit:
- Dietary Intervention in Primary Care: Validity of the DINE Method for Diet AssessmentFamily Practice, 1994
- PreventionThe Lancet, 1994
- Effectiveness of health checks conducted by nurses in primary care: results of the OXCHECK study after one yearBMJ, 1994
- Prevalence of risk factors for heart disease in OXCHECK trial: implications for screening in primary care. Imperial Cancer Research Fund OXCHECK Study Group.BMJ, 1991
- By how much does dietary salt reduction lower blood pressure? I--Analysis of observational data among populations.BMJ, 1991
- The process of smoking cessation: An analysis of precontemplation, contemplation, and preparation stages of change.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1991
- WEIGHT IN INFANCY AND DEATH FROM ISCHAEMIC HEART DISEASEThe Lancet, 1989
- Intersalt: an international study of electrolyte excretion and blood pressure. Results for 24 hour urinary sodium and potassium excretion. Intersalt Cooperative Research Group.BMJ, 1988
- Dietary sodium restriction for mild hypertension in general practice.BMJ, 1983
- COMMUNITY EDUCATION FOR CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTHThe Lancet, 1977