McDonald S, Yates D, Durrand JW, et al. - By inquiring 299 participants at three UK hospital Trusts, researchers examined motivation, confidence and priority for changing health behaviours prior to operation for short-term perioperative health benefits vs long-term general health advantages. In this surgical population, risk behaviours prevailed substantially, and clustering of multiple behaviours was found in 42.1% of participants. For perioperative compared with longer term benefits, higher levels of motivation, confidence and priority for increasing physical activity, weight management and decreasing alcohol intake were observed. As for smoking cessation, no difference was seen, and lower confidence for achieving this vs other behaviours was reported. Findings revealed substantial patient wish to alter behaviours for perioperative benefit, as well as the requirement for structured preoperative support. In support of a ‘pre-operative teachable moment’, and of patients’ wish to alter behaviours for health benefits in the short term, objective evidence was generated in this study.