Health promotion in different medical settings: women's health, community health and private practice

Author(s): Kalucy, E., Lawless, A., Barton, S., Steven, I.

Journal/Book: Aust N Z Publ Health. 1998; 22: GPO Box 2204, Attn:fiona Bray, Canberra 2601, Australia. Public Health Assoc Australia Inc. 200-205.

Abstract: This paper describes the health promotion role of doctors in two medical practice settings: women's and community health centres, and fee-for-service practice. It proposes the establishment of divisions of primary health care in Australia which would be multi-disciplinary and focus on community-wide health issues. The paper is based on data from an interview survey of medical practitioners who had worked in metropolitan Adelaide women's and community health centres and from a questionnaire survey of GPs in private practice. The types of health promotion activity by the doctors in the different settings are discussed. It is concluded that private practice GPs are involved primarily in providing health education advice to individual patients. Doctors within women's and community health centres are more likely to report involvement in group health promotion activity and broader community development initiatives. The study concludes that health promotion which focuses on the health of the local community is best conducted within multi-disciplinary health centres. GPs in private practice are limited by the structure of their setting (particularly the fee-for-service basis and reliance on a single discipline) to health promotion which focuses on the needs of individual patients.

Note: Article Baum F, Flinders Univ S Australia, Sch Med, Fac Hlth Sci, Dept Publ Hlth, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, SA 5001, AUSTRALIA

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