Some guidelines for conducting a health fair

Health professionals are being asked with increasing frequency to participate in, or to conduct, health fairs. There is, however, a lack of published practical advice available to persons undertaking such an event for the first time. Based upon my experience in this area, participants are advised to (a) clearly define in advance the objectives to be achieved by this activity, (b) give careful attention to the timing, location, and financing of the event, (c) encourage the active participation in the event of both professionals and lay persons in the community, (d) pay particular attention to publicizing the event, since the fair's success will be directly related to visitor attendance, and (e) evaluate the event to determine whether the sponsors' objective were met, whether additional health fairs should be conducted, and what changes should be made when similar events are held in the future.