Incorporating health promotion into history taking

Before becoming a medical student I worked as a health psychologist. This involved trying to explain what motivates the behaviours associated with health and illness. Medical training has steered me towards diagnosis and treatment, but perhaps there is room for more communication between these two disciplines.

When taking histories many doctors do not routinely ask patients if they have considered a change in a behaviour that may play a part in their current illness and future health. Is this because we do not feel it is our role or because we do not have time? …