How do we encourage our patients to give up smoking, drink less alcohol and engage in healthy activities that would enhance and possibly lengthen their lives? Health promotion and explaining risk are part of the GP's everyday job but it is a skill that could be improved. One suggestion for improving health promotion by GPs is that a motivational interviewing (MI) approach could be used. This article aims to describe the MI method and its practical relevance to primary care practitioners in dealing with common patient concerns.
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