[Soliciting Job Centre Clients for a Cardiopreventive Health Examination Programme]

Aim: There is limited knowledge about the reaching of socioeconomic disadvantaged groups for prevention measures. Results of proactive contacting are presented for a 2-step cardiopreventive health examination programme (CHP) in 2 job centres in Northern Germany. Methods: The duration of the programme extended over a period of 10 weeks. All clients aged between 40 and 65 years were included. Phase 1consisted of a self-administered computer-based assessment, and if medical staff were present, blood pressure measurement and/or blood samples were taken. Participants without a history of cardiovascular diseases, interventional/surgical blood vessel procedures, diabetes and a body-mass-index ≤35 kg/m² were invited to a specialised examination centre (phase 2). Logistic regression analysis was used to test predictors for participation in both phases. Variables were age, gender and for phase 2 the distance between participants' residence addresses and the address of the examination centre, cardiovascular risk factors, subjective health and socio-demographics. Results: 344 of the 1 049 invited job centre clients participated in the assessment. Women were more likely to participate than men. A number of 253 participants were invited for blood pressure measurement and blood sample taking. Participation of 209 persons was positively associated with age. A number of 138 participated in phase 2. Participation decreased with increasing distance between the participant's residence address and the address of the examination centre. Smokers, persons with less than 10 years of schooling and those who did not report an elevated level of blood lipids were less likely to participate. Conclusion: Blood pressure measurements and taking of blood samples in job centres were found to be highly accepted. The burden on potential participants to reach preventive measures should be minimised.