Overview
Lifescripts is based on Australian and international models for lifestyle intervention, including the Active Script program in Victoria and the Green Prescription Program implemented in New Zealand.
Lifescripts provides general practice with tools to assist patients to make healthier lifestyle choices. Building on work undertaken on the SNAP (Smoking, Nutrition, Alcohol and Physical activity) lifestyle risk factors, Lifescripts covers those risk factors (smoking, nutrition, alcohol and physical activity) and includes weight management as an additional risk factor.
Lifescripts provides a framework and guidelines for GPs, Practice Nurses and staff in the general practice setting to:
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raise and discuss lifestyle risk factors with patients;
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provide advice in the form of a written script and associated patient education; and
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provide referral to other providers to support healthy lifestyle.
Lifescripts is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA).
Contact your local Division of General Practice for further information.
Objectives
Lifescripts recognises that:
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Patients need motivation and support to change
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People are most likely to change when given tailored advice and assistance that suits individual circumstances and preferences
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A systematic approach involving the practice team (practice nurses, Aboriginal Health Workers, reception and administration staff) is most effective
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Simple, time efficient strategies by individual GPs can be effective
The aim of the Lifescripts Initiative is to:
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Provide a national approach to lifestyle prescriptions
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Raise awareness of the role of general practice in health promotion
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Improve quality and consistency of patient education materials
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Develop partnerships with stakeholders
Program Detail
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All 18 Divisions of General Practice in Queensland participated in the Lifescripts initiative.
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Mixed approach with the majority supporting practice nurses and GPs, through CPD and visits.
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Majority of Divisions have identified agencies or providers to collaborate with in implementing Lifescripts e.g. Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services, community health and the non government sector.
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Lifescripts has been incorporated into existing programs by a number of Divisions e.g. aged care, chronic disease and mental health programs, Place Based Initiatives etc.
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General Practice Queensland was a partner in a consortium that developed, tested and evaluated a Pregnancy Lifescripts Kit.
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Ongoing promotion of the resources through Divisions of General Practice
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Gold Coast Division of General Practice and South East Alliance of General Practice funded to implemented Lifescripts as part of the Lifescripts Demonstration Division Program
Achievements
July 2007 – December 2007
Lifescripts Resources
The Lifescripts Resource Kit focuses on the five lifestyle risk factors for chronic disease: smoking; nutrition; physical activity; alcohol; and weight management.
The Kit contains evidence-based tools that enable general practice to assist patients to modify their lifestyles.
The Kit components are as follows:
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Divisions of General Practice Resource Kit: a manual to assist Divisions incorporate Lifescripts within their activities and to provide support and guidance to general practices;
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Practice Kit: posters, flyers and checklists for practice waiting rooms and a manual to assist general practices integrate Lifescripts into their activities; and
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Risk Factor Resource Kit: assessment tools, lifestyle prescriptions and 5As guideline cards for each risk factor.
Support resources to assist implementation and promotion of Lifescripts include:
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National Lifescripts profile – Implementation of Lifescripts
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Smoking cessation resources
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Motivational interviewing scenarios
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Sample Division annual plan
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Implementation of Lifescripts practical tips for GPs
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Lifescripts PowerPoint presentations
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Lifescripts risk factor summary of evidence
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A range of fact sheets
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Risk factor management and prevention guidelines
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Newsletters and newsletter articles
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Project planning tools
Electronic copies of the Lifescripts resources and more are available on the AGPN Lifescripts Resource Library.
Divisions of General Practice and Practices can request copies of the FREE Lifescripts resources by contacting the Department of Health and Ageing (02) 6269 1080 to request an order form and/or to place a telephone order.
Translated Lifescripts Resources
The Lifescripts script pads and consumer resources (posters, flyers and checklists) have been translated and adapted to better meet the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) patients. The resources have been translated into the six most commonly spoken languages other than English in Australia (Vietnamese, Cantonese, Italian, Greek, Mandarin, Arabic - Cantonese and Mandarin are written as standard Chinese).
Lifescripts Demonstration Divisions Program
In the 2007-2008 financial year, the Department of Health and Ageing provided funding for Divisions to participate in a Lifescripts Demonstration Divisions project. Divisions funded through the Demonstration Divisions project implemented strategies with selected practices to assist them to incorporate Lifescripts and lifestyle risk factor management into their activities. For further information see the Lifescripts Demonstration Divisions page on the AGPN website.
Adaptation of Lifescripts Resources for Indigenous Patients
The Lifescripts resources have been adapted for use with Indigenous clients. The resources include a Healthy Lifestyle Action Plan that is suitable for use with all patients, including those with low literacy skills; actions plans for each risk factor that are based on the original Lifestyle Prescriptions which contain more detailed advice than the ‘Healthy Lifestyle Action Plan’; and a flipchart that incorporates information on all five risk factors, the 5As process and stage of change concept to guide health practitioners through lifestyle risk factor consultations with patients.
Pregnancy Lifescripts Kit
A Pregnancy Lifescripts Kit has been developed to provide GPs, Practice Nurses and practice staff with simple, evidence-based tools to assist in the provision of structured, consistent lifestyle advice on smoking, alcohol use and nutrition (including supplements, in particular folate, food-borne infections such as listeriosis, and other dietary issues specific to pregnancy) to pregnant or breastfeeding women and women contemplating pregnancy.
General Practice Queensland was a partner in the consortium that developed, tested and evaluated the Pregnancy Lifescripts Kit.
E-Lifescripts Resources
The Department of Health and Ageing has engaged Kinect Australia to develop Lifescripts software which will work with a range of clinical desktop systems used in practices. It will enable practices to easily identify and manage patients with specified risk factors, prompt practices to consider issuing a Lifescript to patients and keep a record of Lifescripts issued. The trial of e-Lifescripts is underway in ten different Divisions of General Practice. The software will be ready for wider dissemination in late-2008. In the meantime, there are Lifescripts electronic templates that can be downloaded into the Medical Director program. These are available in the Lifescripts Resource Library on the AGPN website.
Resources
Links
General
Nutrition
Physical Activity
Alcohol
Smoking
Weight Management
Feedback
For further information or support, please contact your local Division of General Practice or visit the AGPN or Department of Health and Ageing
Click here to download the Lifescripts fact sheet.