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Article
Primary Care Providers' Sources And Preferences For Cognitive Health Information In The United States
Health Promotion International
  • Jan Warren-Findlow, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
  • Anna E. Greer, Sacred Heart University
  • Angela K. Hochhalter, Scott & White Healthcare
  • James N. Laditka, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Document Type
Peer-Reviewed Article
Publication Date
12-1-2010
Program
Exercise Science
Abstract

In most countries, physicians and other health-care providers play key roles in promoting health. Accumulating scientific evidence suggests that providers may soon want to include cognitive health among the areas they promote. Cognitive health is the maintenance of cognitive abilities that enable social connectedness, foster a sense of purpose, promote independent living, allow recovery from illness or injury and promote effective coping with functional deficits. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has established health promotion about cognitive health as a policy priority, with health providers included as one key group to participate in this effort. This study presents results from focus groups and interviews with primary care physicians (n = 28) and midlevel health-care providers (physician assistants and nurse practitioners, n = 21) in three states of the US. Providers were asked about their sources of information on cognitive health and for their ideas on how best to communicate with primary care providers about research on cognitive health. In results, providers cited online sources, popular media and continuing medical education as their most common sources of information about cognitive health. Popular media sources were used both proactively and reactively to respond to patient inquiries. Differences in sources of information were noted for physicians as compared with midlevel providers, and for rural and urban providers. Several potential ways to disseminate information about cognitive health were identified. Effective messaging is likely to require multiple strategies to reach diverse groups of primary care providers, and to include continuing medical education.

Comments

At the time of publication Anna E. Price was affiliated with Department of Health and Exercise Science, Furman University.

DOI
10.1093/heapro/daq043
PMID
20624751
Pages
464-473
Citation Information

Warren-Findlow, J., Price, A.E., Hochhalter, A.K., & Laditka, J.N. (2010). Primary care providers' sources and preferences for cognitive health information in the United States. Health Promotion International, 25(4), 464-473. doi: 10.1093/heapro/daq043