Characteristics of attenders and non-attenders at health examinations for ischaemic heart disease in general practice.
OBJECTIVE
To clarify the importance of health beliefs and some socio-demographic data for accepting an invitation to take part in a health examination by comparing attenders and non-attenders with respect to health beliefs and social status.


METHODS
Multipractice study including questionnaires for men.


METHODS
65 GPs in two areas in the county of Aarhus, Denmark, invited 2452 40-49 year old men to a health examination for ischaemic heart disease. The examination was free in one area, whereas there was a fee in the other. All 1272 attenders and 423/1180 non-attenders completed the questionnaire.


RESULTS
The attendance rate was 66% in the area with free examination and 37% in the fee-paying area. The attendance was significantly higher for cohabitants than for single men in both areas. There was a slightly higher attendance of men with an occupational training in both areas, but the difference was not significant. In general, all agreed that IHD is a serious disease, and that it can be prevented by a personal effort. There were only minor differences in the attenders' and non-attenders' health beliefs.


CONCLUSIONS
The main conclusion is that 40-49 year old men are in general concerned about IHD. Whether they want to have a health examination for IHD depends mainly on its availability (exemplified here as fee versus free), since the differences were small with respect to health beliefs between attenders and non-attenders.
Christensen
B
B
Institute of General Practice, University of Aarhus, Denmark.
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003710:Demography; D005251:Fees, Medical; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012307:Risk Factors; D012923:Social Class