Consumers

For Consumers

Lifescripts provides a mechanism in which general practice can engage with patients on the behaviours that have an impact on peoples lives and their health.

Lifestyle risk factors are common among general practice patients. Around half are overweight or obese, one in five smoke, one in five engage in risky drinking and about two-thirds do less than the recommended level of physical activity.

GPs, Practice Nurses, Aboriginal Health Workers and Allied Health Workers can give simple and accurate advice to assist patients in making healthier lifestyle changes. General practice may also be able to link patients into local programs that support healthy lifestyles. There is evidence that brief interventions by GPs are effective in quitting smoking, reducing risky levels of alcohol consumption and increasing physical activity. GPs and others in the Practice setting can also provide brief advice for patients on nutrition and weight management.

Lifescripts provides a framework for GPs, practice nurses and staff in the general practice setting to bring lifestyle risk factors to the fore in their engagement with patients. Implementing Lifescripts involves: discussing risk factors with patients; setting lifestyle change goals; providing written lifestyle prescriptions; organising ongoing review of lifestyle risk factors; and referring patients to other services that support healthy lifestyle choices.

The Lifescripts program aims to raise awareness within the community about the lifestyle risk factors (listed below) for chronic disease. Click on the links below to find out more about how these risk factors impact on your health. The Links page provides links to a range of organisations that consumers may wish to visit to find out more.