Lifescripts

Program officer

Quicklinks

The Department of Health and Ageing's Lifescripts guidelines and evidence cards, assessment tools and prescription pads

Program summary

The Lifescript program is a Department of Health and Ageing initiative that provides a framework and resources for GPs, Practice Nurses and staff in the general practice setting to bring lifestyle risk factors to the fore in their engagement with patients.

The Lifescripts model is based on research studies that consistently show that verbal advice alone is not enough - a GP lifestyle intervention is most effective when backed up by appropriate printed material and/or referrals. Lifescripts covers smoking, nutrition, alcohol, physical activity and weight management.

There is a range of resources available that allows Practices to choose their level of engagement, from a systems-based approach to an opportunistic approach. The potential is there to allow a comprehensive approach: discussing risk factors with patients, setting lifestyle change goals, providing written lifestyle prescriptions, organising ongoing review of lifestyle risk factors, and referring patients to other services that support healthy lifestyle choices.

Resources/Templates
Directory of local lifestyle programs and support services
Exercise medical consent and referral form
National Physical Activity Guidelines review form
Exercise planner
Quit telephone counseling form
Alcohol audit and Alcohol decisional balance chart
Lifescript medical software templates
MBS Health Assessment for people aged 45 to 49 years of age who are at risk of developing chronic disease
Barwon Community Cessation Clinics
Links to other websites

Life Activities Club - Geelong Inc

Smoking cessation

Alcohol and substance abuse

Nutrition and weight management

Physical activity

Go For Your Life
Kinect Australia (contact list for local personal trainers)
Bicycle Victoria
Better Health Channel
Healthy Activity