Post Office Box 11523
Birmingham, Alabama 35202
Contact: Amy Gates-Sparks
Phone: (205) 323-5311, extension 226
Key words: incentives; health promotionand
prevention; screenings
The purpose of this study was
to develop, implement, and evaluate
patient-focused and incentive-based
health promotion strategies to encourage
patient compliance with regard to breast
examinations; pap smears; prostate cancer
screenings; human immunodeficiency virus
(HIV) screenings; tuberculosis (TB)
screenings; and immunizations.
METHODS
Baseline data was available from work
done as part of a National Health Service
Corps Health Promotion Disease Prevention
(HPDP) Project. Surveys and focus groups
(e.g., at shelters, feeding centers)
were the major mechanisms through which
information was obtained to help with
the identification of health promotion
strategies. The incentives program created
involved the selection of a particular
health issue to be highlighted for a
given month (e.g., immunizations). During
the month, an incentive such as a food/dessert
coupon was given to each individual
who came in for the highlighted procedure.
The availability of incentives was promoted
by flyers and other advertisements in
feeding centers, shelters, and other
places homeless people in the community
were likely to visit. Records were kept
regarding those individuals who responded
to the monthly marketing campaigns.
An overall increase in the provision
of preventive care services was seen.
These results are summarized in the
following table:
| Preventive
Service |
1995-96
(Baseline) |
1996-97 |
Difference |
Percentage
of women who
received a breast exam
within the preceding 1-2
years |
33% |
95% |
increase
of 62% |
Percentage
of women 18
years of age and older
who had a pap smear
within the preceding 1-2
years |
67%
|
95% |
increase
of 28% |
Percentage
of men 40
years of age and older
who had ever received a
prostrate cancer
screening |
38% |
unavailable |
N/A |
Percentage
of adult men
and women who received
HIV screening |
53% |
68% |
increase
of 15% |
Percentage
of adult men
and women who received TB
screening |
63% |
85% |
increase
of 22% |
Percentage
of children
up-to-date on
immunizations |
63% |
90% |
increase
of 27% |
An increase in the most of the preventive
services monitored was seen. How much
of the apparent increase was due to the
incentives is uncertain. Additional data
collection is needed and will continue.
