Practice Tip - CLOSING THE GAP BETWEEN WHAT PEOPLE THINK AND WHAT THEY DO

There is compelling scientific evidence that what people know about diet and how they eat are in many cases two different issues? I'm sure you have observed that this void between knowing and doing crosses over into all health behaviours?

1) The acute antalgic low back or torticollis crisis patient who promises you that they will keep seeing you forever for maintenance care if you can only help them get out of agony; who then discontinue somewhere between visit two and six because "they are fine now and will ring if they have any further problems".

2) The reactivating patient that confesses that they were feeling great while they were doing the exercises that you taught them, but then they just forgot about them because they didn't have any pain. And then they ask you "why does this problem keep coming back?"

3) The osteo-arthritic retiree that starts complaining of increased aching and stiffness, and when you ask them if they are still taking their Glucosamine, they respond "Oh I finished the bottle and thought I'd see how I'd go without them for a while".

4) You meet an old regular practice member who discontinued 1-2 years ago, and when you ask them how they are going they give you the long list of ailments, diagnoses and prescriptions that they now take, and then pass comment "you know when I used to see you I didn't have any of these problems".

There's a push in our profession right now to adapt us into risk-factor screening machines, who then pass appropriate educational brochures to those at risk, and warn them of the dangers of not changing their ways. Think about this: Most people who are overweight already know they are overweight; most people who are unfit already experience the effects of it; most people experiencing symptoms of Diabetes are aware of the symptoms... They don't need you to identify the symptoms of their condition. They need help closing the void between their awareness and their behaviour!

If you want to be a wellness practitioner let me tell you a major paradigm shift you are going to have to make - It's not about you, it's about them. Wellness is a personal journey of lifestyle choices leading towards better life and health outcomes. You can't make the decisions for them - if you try to then its not wellness - it's medicine.

Here's four questions that you must ask your practice members to make massive changes in your wellness relationship:

1) "What is your biggest health priority right now?" Their choice not yours.

2) "What are three things you think you could do to improve this area of your life?" Their choice, not yours. But this may be the point where they ask you for your educated opinion.


3) "What information do you think you need to help you make this change?" This is the point where they will most likely give you permission to feed them with resources.


4) "What would you like me to do to make sure you follow through on your plan?" This is where you help them to make some commitments, set some goals for them to achieve, define some measures for monitoring their progress, and set a time-line for review.