Improving geriatric preventive care through a patient-held checklist.
Providing preventive services to patients is a priority for most family physicians. In this study, a three-item preventive checklist reminded patients 65 years of age and older to obtain an annual blood pressure check, influenza immunization, and cancer checkup. Over a one-year period, patients who received the checklist (n = 59) obtained 46% of indicated cancer detection services, while those who did not (n = 55) obtained 30%. Both groups had similar rates of obtaining blood pressure measurement (over 90%) and influenza immunization (over 45%). Patients themselves may be an underutilized resource for improving preventive care.
Dietrich
A J
AJ
Department of Community and Family Medicine, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, N.H. 03756.
Duhamel
M
M
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005853:Geriatrics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control; D009513:New Hampshire; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011897:Random Allocation