[The health project Ebeltoft: health check ups and discussions in general practice. Basic data from a 5-year,...

A study was carried out to investigate people's interest in participating in health check-up and in discussions about health with their own general practitioner, participants' health status, the proportion who received health advice following health check-up, 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. All general practitioners from the four practices in Ebeltoft and a random sample of 2,000 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 was given a health check-up which included a range og tests (Table 2 and 3); this group received written feedback from the general practitioner. The other intervention group was also given a health check-up and written feedback, in addition, they were given the opportunity to attend their general practitioner to discuss health-promoting measures. A total of 1370 people participated in the study (69% response rate). Health advice was given to 76% of 905 participants following health check-up. 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%). There was considerable interest in participating in health promotion. Three out of four of those who had a health check-up were given health advice. Two out of three of those who were offered a health talk with the general practitioner appeared willing to make relevant lifestyle changes. Longterm follow up is needed to determine effects and side effects of health check-up and health talks.