How Do You Motivate Patients to Move?
“When it comes to motivation, I don’t think there is a one-size-fits-all approach,” said Dr. Makris. She tries to identify what matters most for each patient as a starting point. “When they can identify something in their day-to-day life that they value, then I like to link a physical activity-based goal to that,” she said. Setting physical activity goals using the mnemonic SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely) can be useful, she advised.
The OA Action Alliance also provides additional tools for clinicians on how to counsel patients on behavior change.
Understanding the patient’s lifestyle is also crucial when discussing physical activity, Dr. Lo added. “You have to give them practical solutions that they can actually incorporate into their lives,” she said.
Discussions around physical activity should be an ongoing part of clinic visits, both Dr. Lo and Dr. Makris agreed, to celebrate achievements and revise goals.
“I’m kind of notorious for being really slow in clinic because I just let people talk,” Dr. Lo said. “I do feel like these extra moments, when you spend time talking about these things, allow your recommendations to be more customized for the patients” and make the biggest impact.
Dr. Allen, Dr. Lo, and Dr. Makris reported no relevant financial relationships.
A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.