Secondary healthcare contacts after multiphasic preventive health screening: a randomized trial.

AIM

To analyze the consequence of preventive health screenings and discussions on the utilization of secondary healthcare.

METHODS

All 30- to 49-year-old residents registered with a general practitioner in the district of Ebeltoft, Denmark, were included (n = 3,464) in a randomized controlled trial with eight years' follow-up. A random sample of 2,030 subjects was selected for invitation (Invited). The remaining 1,434 persons were never contacted and served as external control group (Non-Invited). Persons accepting participation were randomly divided into one internal control group (Questionnaire) and two intervention groups. One intervention group was offered three health screenings (Health Screening) during the five years. The other intervention group were in addition offered a yearly health discussion with their general practitioner (Health Screening and Discussion).

RESULTS

The rate ratio for hospital admissions was 0.97 (95% confidence interval 0.80 to 1.18) in the Invited group compared with the Non-Invited. The annual admission rates showed a significant trend (p = 0.0003) with a decrease four and five years after intervention launch for the Invited group compared with the Non-Invited. A similar trend was found when comparing the internal control group with intervention groups (p = 0.0016).

CONCLUSIONS

A 30- to 49-year-old general population's utilization of secondary healthcare did not increase in response to a general health promotion offer. During the observation period a significant decline in annual hospital admission rates was seen.