RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Lay epidemiology and the rationality of responses to health education. JF British Journal of General Practice JO Br J Gen Pract FD British Journal of General Practice SP 428 OP 430 VO 41 IS 351 A1 S Frankel A1 C Davison A1 G D Smith YR 1991 UL http://bjgp.org/content/41/351/428.abstract AB Health education has long been seen as an important component of primary care, and under the new contract has become routine. It is important to consider the likely impact of general practitioners' endeavours in the light of the experience of health education to date. Despite decades of efforts directed towards reducing the population's adherence to practices deemed harmful to health, it must be acknowledged that the impact of such activity has been disappointing. This paper considers some cultural origins of public scepticism to health education messages, and argues for a more balanced presentation of current knowledge concerning the causes of disease and the probability that individuals will benefit by changing their behaviour.