Implementation of a Structured Lifestyle Program in a Primary Care Setting. Changes in Lifestyle and Effects on Cardiovascular Risk in Patients With High Cardiovascular Risk.

Intervention The intervention program comprises five individual visits to the same nurse, specialised in diabetes care and the metabolic syndrome every three month during one year. The nurse led a person centered dialog based on the answers from a questionnaire. At every visit, focus was primarily on lifestyle habits, using motivational interviewing to strengthen the patient's ability to modify one or more lifestyle habits. Dietary counselling was in accordance with the Swedish recommendation in nutrition. If the patient were in need of extended counseling regarding one or more lifestyle habits, he or she could be referred within the primary care unit to a specialist. During the 12-month period, all patients where offered to participate in evening group sessions at three different occasions. Topics were physical activity, fatty acids, healthy food, tobacco and alcohol, stress, sleep and methods of how to change behavior".