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Why should I
counsel?
It is widely accepted
that health behavior counseling has a great impact in the lives of
patients. Interaction with individuals makes a positive difference in
their health.
For instance, research
has proven the effectiveness of dietitians in counseling about low fat
diets and decreasing blood cholesterol levels.[78,79,80]
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While this is only one example of the effectiveness of an allied
health professional’s success at counseling, the message is clear:
You can make a difference in the health behavior of your
patients. |
A recent Gallup
poll, conducted for the March of Dimes, indicated that 53% of women,
18-45, who do not currently take a multivitamins on a daily basis, say
they would be likely to take a daily multivitamin if advised to do so by
their health care provider. Another 37% say they would be somewhat
likely to follow their health care provider’s advice. However, that same
survey revealed that only 25% of women surveyed had actually been given
folic acid information by their health care provider.[43]
It is evident from the
behavioral research that reinforcing a message will lead a person to
action. If there is reinforcement among the different health professions,
there is a higher chance of adherence to folic acid intake.
It is essential for
every health care professional to use any available opportunities to
counsel about folic acid intake. This prevents individuals from not
receiving counseling or knowing about the benefits of folic acid. |
