       Document 0599
 DOCN  M9630599
 TI    Ebeltoft project: baseline data from a five-year randomized, controlled,
       prospective health promotion study in a Danish population.
 DT    9603
 AU    Lauritzen T; Leboeuf-Yde C; Lunde IM; Nielsen KD; Nordic Institute for
       Chiropractic and Clinical Biomechanics,; Odense, Denmark.
 SO    Br J Gen Pract. 1995 Oct;45(399):542-7. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/96104321
 AB    BACKGROUND. There is increasing political pressure on the medical
       profession to approach welfare diseases, such as coronary heart disease
       and diabetes, through prevention. General practitioners are required to
       offer regular health checks to healthy people, in spite of the lack of
       scientific evidence for the universal need, usefulness and side effects
       of such an intervention. Randomized controlled trials are needed. AIM. A
       study was carried out to investigate people's interest in participating
       in health checks and in discussions about health with their own general
       practitioner, participants' health status, the proportion who received
       health advice following health checks, and the lifestyle goals they set
       following discussion with their general practitioner. This study reports
       the baseline data from a five-year randomized, controlled, prospective,
       population-based study in general practices in Ebeltoft, Denmark.
       METHOD. All general practitioners from the four practices in Ebeltoft
       and a random sample of 2000 people aged between 30 and 50 years were
       invited to participate. Participants were randomly divided into three
       groups--one control group and two intervention groups. One intervention
       group were given a health check which included being screened for
       cardiovascular risk factors, lung and liver function, fitness, sight and
       hearing and an optional test for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV);
       this group received written feedback from the general practitioner. The
       other intervention group were also given a health check and written
       feedback; in addition, they were given the opportunity to attend their
       general practitioner to discuss preventive health. RESULTS. A total of
       1370 people participated in the study (69% response rate). Health advice
       was given to 76% of 905 participants following health checks. Almost all
       of the 456 participants (96%) who were offered the opportunity of
       discussing their health with their general practitioner took up the
       offer; 64% of the 456 participants reported that they had decided to
       undertake lifestyle changes. Eleven of those who discussed their health
       with the doctor were referred to a specialist (2%). CONCLUSION. There
       was considerable interest in participating in health promotion. Three
       out of four of those having a health check were given health advice. Two
       out of three of those offered a health talk with the general
       practitioner appeared willing to make relevant lifestyle changes.
       Long-term follow up is needed to determine effects and side effects of
       health checks and health talks.
 DE    Adult  Attitude to Health  Denmark  *Family Practice  Female  Health
       Education  *Health Promotion  Human  Male  Middle Age  Prospective
       Studies  Support, Non-U.S. Gov't  CLINICAL TRIAL  JOURNAL ARTICLE
       RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).

