Health screening examinations: the patient's perspective

Periodic preventive screening programs will require patient cooperation if they are to be successful. To determine the level of patient interest on a broad scale, 1,788 adult patients were surveyed in 47 family physicians' offices over a statewide area. Seventy percent said they had participated in a screening health checkup in the preceding two years. Nine percent of these patients reported discovering a previously unknown condition as a result of their recent screening examination. The majority of surveyed patients said they would agree to be screened or treated with the complete list of eight suggested procedures for men and ten procedures for women. Rates of patient acceptance of specific health maintenance recommendations ranged from a low of 54 percent for influenza immunization to a high of 91 percent for a blood pressure check. Listing typical costs did not alter the selection rates of patients with insurance coverage compared with those without it. The geriatric age group was the least willing to be screened. Seventy-two percent of patients indicated that they wanted to discuss at least one wellness topic with their physician. Overall, most patients are willing to participate in the concept of a periodic health maintenance examination as recommended to them by their physician.