Goal-setting for behavior change in primary care: an exploration and status report.

OBJECTIVE This paper explores the behavior change method of goal-setting and reviews the literature on goal-setting in primary care for patients with chronic conditions. METHODS A literature search was conducted resulting in eight articles meeting the criteria of goal-setting interventions in primary care for adults or adolescents with chronic conditions. RESULTS Hypotheses are advanced that goal-setting is generally conducted by collaboratively working with patients to set short-term and specific goals, with follow-up to provide feedback to patients. The articles reviewed generally confirmed these hypotheses. This review did not focus on clinical outcomes, but on the processes of engaging patients in goal-setting discussions. CONCLUSION Evidence that goal-setting is superior to other behavior change methods has not been shown. Since goal-setting is being utilized as a behavior change technique in many primary care sites, primary care practices can benefit from information on how best to implement this innovation. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS Generally, clinicians are minimally involved in goal-setting discussions with their patients. Engaging patients in goal-setting can be done with interactive computer programs and non-clinical members of the primary care team.