Principles of changing health behavior.

Successful implementation of clinical preventive care programs is a shared responsibility of patients and health care professionals. The physician often laments patient failure to follow directions while the same patient complains that instructions were never given. Health care professionals should strive to "practice as they preach." They need to assure that their patients have clearly understood the recommendations and that patient concerns are assessed and addressed. Similarly, patients need to participate more actively in their own health care and to assume greater initiative in getting their questions answered and their concerns addressed. To increase the likelihood of these actions and their intended health behavior changes, a set of principles derived from theory and research can be followed. These principles represent a way to understand and influence the health behavior of physicians and patients. The principles are interactive and complementary and are based on the elements that appear to be associated with successful educational programs. Consideration of these principles in the conduct of educational diagnoses, interventions, and health education programs increases the incidence and durability of behavior change.