Payment and attendance at general practice preventive health examinations.
OBJECTIVE
This study's purpose was to determine how conditions of payment influence attendance at preventive health examinations.


METHODS
A multi-practice study of 65 general practitioners (GPs) was conducted in two areas in the county of Aarhus, Denmark. The GPs invited 2,452 men aged 40-49 to a preventive health examination for coronary heart disease (CHD). The examination was free in one area but cost $40 in the other area. A risk profile was estimated, based on a summation of points for risk factors for CHD, including blood pressure, serum cholesterol, smoking behavior, body mass index, and family history of CHD.


RESULTS
Attendance at the examinations was 37% in the required payment area and 66% in the free area. Of the total attenders, 13% had an increased risk of CHD. A slight but significant tendency, a lower risk for developing CHD, existed among attenders who paid for the examination.


CONCLUSIONS
A requirement for payment for health examination leads to fewer patients obtaining examinations.
Institute of General Practice, University of Aarhus, Denmark.
B
B
Christensen
D000328:Adult; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000517:prevention & control; D003718:Denmark; D005194:Family Practice / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005249:Fees and Charges / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors