Health Care : Current Reviews

Creating lifestyle change through communication: Why and how?

3^rd Indo-Global Summit & Expo on Healthcare

October 05-07, 2015 New Delhi, India

Judith W Rhue

Ohio University, USA

Posters-Accepted Abstracts: Health Care: Current Reviews

Abstract:

This talk focuses on communication as a critical component in creating lifestyle change for patients at a juncture in time when many nations are facing a costly epidemic of lifestyle-related illnesses. Historically, infectious diseases were the leading causes of death globally. More recently, however, changes in lifestyle (diet, exercise, work, stress and smoking) have resulted in the emergence of lifestyle-related illnesses as the leading cause of death across much of the world. At present, the US healthcare system struggles with the resulting explosion of lifestyle related illnesses, while increasingly, India and China, the worldâ??s most populous nations are facing similar illnesses associated with a changing lifestyle among their people. While malnourishment remains a global problem, rates of obesity, diabetes, hypertension and cancer are increasing globally, reflecting unhealthy lifestyles characterized by diet, lack of exercise, stress, smoking and more. With these changes comes a need for more physicians and healthcare providers, while rising healthcare costs impact national resources. Research shows that many lifestyle related illnesses can be prevented or treated successfully with behavioral changes in the patientâ??s lifestyle. The importance of using communication strategies in working with patients cannot be underestimated. It is critical for healthcare providers to understand and implement strategies that will prevent and treat many chronic illnesses while improving overall health and quality of life. Evidenced-based approaches to intervening with patients to prevent and alter unhealthy lifestyle will be discussed.

Biography :

Email: rhue@ohio.edu