Medical practitioners and health promotion: results from a community survey in Sydney's western suburbs.

A health survey of 484 persons aged 14 to 89 years was conducted in Sydney's western suburbs in May 1987. Its aims included a description of preventive activities undertaken by medical practitioners and an assessment of the community's perception of the doctor's role in health promotion. Ninety-three per cent reported visiting a doctor in the previous year and 31 per cent of respondents reported having contact with a general practitioner the fortnight before the survey, either for their own health or that of another. Eighty per cent of respondents reported having had their blood pressure measured in the previous year and 63 per cent of female respondents aged 18 years and over who had not had a hysterectomy reported having had a Pap smear in the last five years. However, few respondents reported receiving any lifestyle-related advice at their most recent doctor visit and 77 per cent said that the food they ate was rarely or never discussed with their doctor. Despite this low level of advice, doctors and nurses were perceived to be the most important source of health information by nearly half the respondents. Strategies for increasing the involvement of doctors in health promotion are discussed.