• Piia Jallinoja, Pilvikki Absetz, Risto Kuronen, Aulikki Nissinen, Martti Talja, Antti Uutela, and Kristiina Patja.
• National Public Health Institute, Finland. piia.jallinoja@ktl.fi
• Scand J Prim Health Care. 2007 Dec 1; 25 (4): 244-9.

ObjectiveTo explore physicians' and nurses' views on patient and professional roles in the management of lifestyle-related diseases and their risk factors.DesignA questionnaire study with a focus on adult obesity, dyslipidemia, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and smoking.SettingHealthcare centres in Päijät-Häme hospital district, Finland.SubjectsPhysicians and nurses working in primary healthcare (n =220).Main Outcome MeasuresPerceptions of barriers to treatment of lifestyle-related conditions, perceptions of patients' responsibilities in self-care, experiences of awkwardness in intervening in obesity and smoking, perceptions of rushed schedules, and perceptions of health professionals' roles and own competence in lifestyle counselling.ResultsA majority agreed that a major barrier to the treatment of lifestyle-related conditions is patients' unwillingness to change their habits. Patients' insufficient knowledge was considered as such a barrier less often. Self-care was actively encouraged. Although a majority of both physicians and nurses agreed that providing information, and motivating and supporting patients in lifestyle change are part of their tasks, only slightly more than one half estimated that they have sufficient skills in lifestyle counselling. Among nurses, those with less professional experience more often reported having sufficient skills than those with more experience. Two-thirds of the respondents reported that they had been able to help many patients to change their lifestyles into healthier ones.ConclusionsThe primary care professionals experienced a dilemma in patients' role in the treatment of lifestyle-related diseases: the patient was recognized as central in disease management but also, if reluctant to change, a major potential barrier to treatment.

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