title: Blood pressure screenings through community nursing health fairs: motivating individuals to seek health care follow-up.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effectiveness of blood pressure [BP] screenings through community-based health fairs. Effectiveness was measured by those with high BP readings who either made an appointment with or actually followed up with their primary care provider [PCP] in person following post-screening referral.
  
  
  METHODS
  Anonymized data were provided for 958 individuals who obtained BP screening through a three-day health fair provided by the Ceres Police Department Nurse Program.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Of 958 screened, 170 (17.8%) were identified with high BP readings and provided with PCP referral. Data were analyzed on 124 individuals with high BP recordings. Of the 124 PCP referrals, 116 (93%) either made an appointment with or followed up in person with their PCP following BP screening. Of the 98 who visited with their PCP, 29 (30%) were either placed on BP medication, had their current BP medication dose increased, or were changed to another BP medication by their PCP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hypertension remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Nurse-operated health fairs, crafted to identify those with high BP readings, are promising as a simple and effective means in motivating individuals to seek follow-up care.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Health and Human Services, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, Indiana, USA. dlucky@abramscollege.com
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lucky
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lefaver
authors.forename: Art
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Werk
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination; D002140:California; D005260:Female; D006277:Health Fairs / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011320:Primary Health Care; D055815:Young Adult