Background: Most adults do not engage in health behaviors as often as recommended. Although researchers have tested interventions to promote health behaviors, they have focused on health behaviors chosen by themselves, not by participants. There are scant data describing primary care patients’ health goals. Theoretical framework: Based on theories and research on motivation and goal setting, behavioral interventions can be more effective when based on participants’ own goals (Deci & Ryan, 2000; Stretcher, Seijts, Kok, et al., 1995). Purpose: Our main study aim was to identify health goals among primary care patients seeing nurse practitioners. Our future aim is to test theory-based, individualized, nursing interventions to help people reach their goals regarding health behaviors. Method: A descriptive design was used. Participants: Participants (N=50) were adults who attended primary care clinics for non-emergent reasons. Typically, they were female, Caucasian, and between 20-40 years old. Participants anonymously completed questions about their first and second health goals. Using content analyses, researchers independently read responses for themes. Based on themes, they developed categories independently, and later by consensus. They coded responses into categories with consensus. Results: Ninety-two percent of participants identified goals. Common goals were: physical activity 58% & 27% (first and second, respectively), weight loss (29% & 10%), and sound nutrition (9% & 17%). Participants often shared that they wanted practitioners' initial advice and subsequent follow-up. They preferred to work on their goals on their own, rather than with peers. They preferred to obtain related information in a face-to-face manner. Conclusions: Findings can: a) inform nurses as they endeavor to promote health behaviors among populations similar to our sample and b) guide researchers in designing individualized interventions congruent with participants’ health goals to improve their health behaviors.
Session #1173 - Physical Activity and Patient Outcomes
The 29th Annual MNRS Research Conference (April 1-4, 2005)