The BETTER approach to chronic disease prevention and screening transforms clinical practice by providing evidence-based, comprehensive tools and resources that can be used to address the root causes of multiple chronic diseases, resulting in a shift from disease management to proactive prevention.

Frontline healthcare professionals such as nurses, dietitians, and pharmacists, and public health nurses work collaboratively with primary care providers to deliver the best care to patients. However, in health systems where the focus is chronic disease management, it is often difficult for primary care providers to address cancer and chronic disease prevention comprehensively due to a lack of time and resources.

A healthcare professional who is a member of the practice or linked to the practice becomes your “prevention expert” or BETTER Prevention Practitioner™. Using the BETTER tools, which are based on the best available clinical evidence, the Prevention Practitioner meets with patients one-on-one, informs them about their chronic disease risk, and determines what their recommended prevention and screening action(s) are based on factors such as personal medical history, family history, and lifestyle behaviour.

Through shared decision-making and S.M.A.R.T. (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, time-based) goal setting, the Prevention Practitioner develops a “Prevention Prescription” with each patient, tailored specifically to their needs and chronic disease risk. Links to other health care professionals, practice and community resources may be made to help patients achieve their health goals.

Communication between Prevention Practitioners and primary care providers is key to this approach since patients are referred back to their primary care provider as needed – in cases where possible elevated risk has been identified (e.g. first-degree relative with genetic mutation) or where follow-up is needed (e.g. elevated blood sugar levels). The Prevention Prescription also becomes a part of the patient’s chart so that it can inform the patient’s ongoing clinical care.

“I believe ongoing communication with the patient’s physician (or other primary health care provider, depending on the clinic setting) [is] key to the success of the program as the Prevention Practitioner and physician need to be on the ‘same page’ in order for the patient to continue to set health related goals and maintain healthy behaviours.”
Dawn Gallant RN, Prevention Practitioner

The BETTER Prevention Practitioner™

The Prevention Practitioner is an individual identified by a primary care setting who, informed by the BETTER approach, becomes a cancer and chronic disease prevention and screening resource to their setting. Using the BETTER tools, Prevention Practitioners are able to engage patients as active participants in their health and create a personalized prevention plan with them that links them to resources in their community.

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