U.S. Navy health surveillance, Part 1: Feasibility of a health promotion tracking system.
No systematic monitoring procedure is in place that can provide information about successes or deficiencies in Navy health promotion efforts. This study tested the feasibility of using a brief Health Promotion Tracking Form (HPTF) as part of the periodic physical examinations required of all Navy personnel. Clinics in four geographic regions used the HPTF for a 1-month period. Patients completed HPTF items addressing health-related and demographic items; medical examiners completed HPTF items related to blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels. Analyses revealed acceptably low levels of missing data overall. Demographically, the total sample was similar to the Navy in terms of sex, age, and enlisted occupation, although a racial and socioeconomic bias was seen. Results of this study suggest several recommendations for collecting reliable data for an accurate, ongoing assessment of Navy health.
Woodruff
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San Diego State University, Graduate School of Public Health, Center for Behavioral and Community Health Studies, CA 92120.
Conway
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D000328:Adult; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D009326:Naval Medicine; D014481:United States