The association between the receipt of primary care clinician provision of preventive care and short term health behaviour change

Primary healthcare services are recommended to provide preventive care to address chronic disease risk behaviours. However, all care elements are infrequently provided, and there is a need to understand the impact of partial care provision on behaviour change. This study examined the association between variable levels of preventive care receipt from primary care clinicians on short-term behaviour change for four risk behaviours. A survey was undertaken with 5639 Australian community health service clients (2009–2014). Clients self-reported: engagement in risk behaviours (tobacco smoking, harmful alcohol consumption, inadequate fruit and/or vegetable consumption, physical inactivity) in the month prior to and four week post their community health service appointment; receipt of preventive care during appointments (assessment, advice, referral/follow-up) for each behaviour. Univariate regression models explored the association between change in risk status and preventive care received. The odds of behaviour change for those receiving all three care elements was significant for all behaviours, compared to no care, ranging from 2.02 (alcohol consumption, 95% CI 1.16–3.49) to 4.17 (inadequate fruit and/or vegetable consumption, 95% CI 2.91–5.96). Receipt of both assessment and advice increased the odds of behaviour change, compared to no care, for all behaviours except smoking, ranging from 2.32 (physical inactivity, 95% CI 1.60–3.35) to 2.83 (alcohol consumption, 95% CI 1.84–4.33). Receipt of ‘assessment only’ increased the odds of behaviour change, compared to no care, for inadequate fruit and/or vegetable consumption (OR = 2.40, 95% CI 1.60–3.59) and physical inactivity (OR = 2.81, 95% CI 1.89–4.17). Results highlight the importance of primary care clinicians providing best practice preventive care to maximise client behaviour change.