Direct mail as a prompt for follow-up care among persons at risk for hypertension.
We undertook a direct mail campaign to urge persons identified as being at risk for hypertension to seek medical advice. Those who received a single mailing displayed a 28% increase in the proportion who subsequently discussed their blood pressure with a physician and a 12% increase in the proportion who had their blood pressure rechecked, while those persons who received six mailings reported an equivalent increase in physician discussions but a smaller increase in rechecking their blood pressure. These results support the use of inexpensive social marketing strategies as follow-up methods for blood pressure screening programs.
Murray
D M
DM
Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455.
Kurth
C L
CL
Finnegan
J R
JR
Pirie
P L
PL
Admire
J B
JB
Luepker
R V
RV
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008389:Marketing of Health Services; D008875:Middle Aged; D008910:Minnesota; D009658:North Dakota; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011177:Postal Service; D012307:Risk Factors