Use of physician services following participation in a cardiac screening program.

Cardiac screening programs are ineffective when participants with abnormal findings fail to seek treatment and, to a lesser extent, when participants with normal findings use medical facilities unnecessarily because of continuing concern about heart disease. Age, sex, measure of concern about cardiac symptoms and life stress, and abnormal test results were used to predict the use of physician services in the 3 months following screening. Abnormal test results predicted the use of physician services after screening, as did being older, and having life stress and concern about cardiac symptoms. Being older, male, and concerned about cardiac symptoms predicted having at least one abnormal test result. Participants with normal findings and high levels of concern about cardiac symptoms were as likely to see a physician after the screening as were persons with abnormal findings and low levels of concern about cardiac symptoms. Emphasizing participants' concern about symptoms of heart disease or feelings of stress failed to produce an increase in followup for persons who had abnormal screening outcomes.