Health promotion and ill-health prevention: the role of general practice

Peckham, Stephen BSc MA (Econ)
Hann, Alison BA(Hons) PhD
Boyce, Tammy PhD

Reader in Health Policy, Department of Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
Lecturer in Public Health and Health Policy, School of Health Sciences, Swansea University, Wales, UK
National Centre for Infection Prevention and Management, Imperial College, London, UK

PEER REVIEW

Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

None.

ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE

Stephen Peckham, Department of Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, 15–17 Tavistock Place, London WC1H 9SH, UK.

Received 10 April 2011

Accepted 4 August 2011

Quality in Primary Care 19(5):p 317-323, 2011.

Background

This paper reports on research undertaken for the King’s Fund inquiry into quality in general practice and examines the health promotion role of the general practitioner.

Methods

Literature review of health promotion in general practice focusing on smoking cessation, childhood immunisation, coronary heart disease (CHD) and obesity. In addition the paper draws on interviews with practice and public health staff.

Results

General practitioners (GPs) and their practice teams have a crucial role in promoting health and preventing disease. Consultations provide an ideal opportunity for preventing illness and disease but general practice focuses primarily on secondary prevention. Many GPs state they lack the skills needed to deliver effective health promotion.

Conclusions

Issues, such as GP commissioning, provide a new set of challenges for public health and ill-health prevention. The evidence base is growing but general practice, public health and academics need to work together to improve this.