Temporal effects of prompting on acceptance and follow-up in a community-based hypertension screening program.
This study evaluated the effects of prompts and reinforcement on two aspects of hypertension control: a) attendance at a community-based blood pressure screening program and b) follow-up visits to a physician's office by persons identified through screening as at-risk clients. Baseline data showed a decreasing trend in attendance at the screening sessions and a 51% "no show" rate for physician follow-ups. Screening session attendance increased following intervention; however, attendance rates across weeks appeared to vary mainly as a function of the prompting schedule (monthly newsletter announcements ) rather than the availability of reinforcement. Finally, the intervention not only increased the percentage of at-risk clients who saw a physician, but also decreased the latency between the time of initial screening and the follow-up appointment.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003156:Community Mental Health Services; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D013997:Time Factors