The following recommendations have been chosen because they each have been found to be useful in changing certain health behaviors. Most of the suggested strategies can be incorporated into the practice setting without changing existing practice patterns. Many can be implemented in brief periods of time during routine health visits. Frame the teaching to match the patient s perceptions. When counseling patients, the clinician should consider and incorporate, where possible, the beliefs and concerns of the patient.
Research suggests that people have only a few important beliefs about any one subject.
To persuade patients to change their behavior, it is first necessary to identify their beliefs relevant to the behavior and to provide information based on this foundation. Once the patient s concerns and understanding of the issues are apparent, teaching can then be focused appropriately. In considering a patient s belief system, the provider is challenged to facilitate the bridging of cross- cultural gaps as well. Culturally sensitive education and counseling requires that clinicians assess their own cultural beliefs and be aware of local ethnic, regional, and religious beliefs and practices. 44 Such knowledge aids the development of culturally specific health teaching.