Health education for behavioral change--clinical trial to public health program

A series of educational demonstration programs were designed for selected populations in regard to risk factors for cardiovascular disease. The series, which progressed from clinical trial to public health program, included a project to control high blood pressure (HBP) in outpatients and in a general statewide population, and a school program to decrease dietary intake of salt in 6th grade children at increased risk for HBP. Positive long-term effects in the outpatient study included increased control of HBP and decreased associated mortality, and improvement in compliance with therapy, appointment-keeping and weight-control. Positive short-term effects in both the statewide study and the school population are discussed, and conclusions and implications for behavioral change and public health programs are presented.