PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Doctors are using a classic behavioral modification technique to help their patients be more active. It is known as The Five A's: assess, advise, agree, assist and arrange.
One classic use of The Five A’s is in smoking cessation programs. The Five A’s technique is used in many other ways, including one that may be surprising: Doctors are now using it to encourage their less-active patients to get moving.
Physicians are in a unique position, as trusted professionals, to help patients modify their behavior. One of the reasons The Five A’s approach has been successful is that it is based on the patient and doctor working as a team with each having an active role in the process
KYW Newsradio’s Medical Reports are sponsored by Independence Blue Cross.