title: [Psychosocial consequences of screening for microalbuminuria and for some other risk factors].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Obtaining insight into the psychosocial consequences of a screening programme for the progression of heart, vessel and kidney damage.
  
  
  METHODS
  Questionnaire investigation.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study addressed participants in the 'Prevention of renal and vascular end-stage disease' (PREVEND) study, which included about 40,000 inhabitants of Groningen, the Netherlands, aged 28-75 years, who were asked to send in a vial with morning urine in order to detect microalbuminuria. People with microalbuminuria were invited to a general practitioners' laboratory to determine the risk factors: urinary protein concentration, blood pressure and blood cholesterol level. A questionnaire was sent to 335 participants of the screening who had received the screening results two weeks before.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response rate was 75%. A minority of the respondents diagnosed with risk factors, expressed some concern. No influence on the wellbeing of this group of participants was established. Almost one-third of the respondents stated that they now 'lived according to healthier principles' because of the screening. On the other hand, there was a certain 'certificate of health effect': about half the smokers and the physically inactive saw the favourable screening result as a legitimation for their life style. An unfavourable screening result had led to additional medical consumption in almost half the respondents. The respondents appreciated the screening and especially the lower-educated had a very positive attitude towards early diagnosis in general.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The screening positives showed no diminished wellbeing; their health behaviour improved due to the screening and they had a higher medical consumption. About half the screening negatives regarded the results as a legitimation of their unhealthy life style.
authors.affiliation: Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, faculteit der Medische Wetenschappen, Disciplinegroep Gezondheidswetenschappen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen. t.tijmstra@med.rug.nl
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tijmstra
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Spijkers
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Broer
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Janssen
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: de Jong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000419:Albuminuria / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012041:Regional Medical Programs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires