Purpose: To describe a parent-child-based model that melds a family-centered interaction approach, Touchpoints, with brief negotiation strategies (an adaptation of motivational interviewing) to address health risks in children. An application of the model for addressing childhood overweight in the primary care setting is presented.
Data sources: Selected research, theoretical, and clinical articles; national recommendations and guidelines; and a clinical case.
Conclusions: Lifestyle health behaviors are learned and reinforced within the family; thus, changes to promote child health require family involvement. Interventions that engage parents and support parent-child relationships, while enhancing motivation and the abilities to change behavior, are recommended.
Implications for practice: Primary care is an appropriate setting for addressing lifestyle health behaviors. A collaborative partnership, rather than a prescriptive manner, is advocated for primary care providers when working to facilitate health-promoting behavior.