Failure by a group of elderly men to use a preventive health service.
The perceptions of 25 white males (age range, 53-62) were studied in relation to use of multiphasic screening. Each of these men had been urged repeatedly to take advantage of this service but had failed to do so. The multiphasic examination itself was free, so cost was not an inhibiting feature. This report deals with the proffered reasons why these men did not take the screening examination. The factors could be classified as: 1) social influences, 2) health care setting, 3) beliefs about health, 4)use of alternative forms of care, 5) the time involved for testing, and 6) disinterest. A discussion of some individual responses is included. Recommendations are made for structuring  more effective delivery of health care services for the elderly.
D001294:Attitude to Health; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009098:Multiphasic Screening; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires