Put Prevention Into Practice (PPIP) materials have been successfully incorporated into many public and private settings. These include associations, universities, health plans, private practices, hospitals, government, and businesses. Some examples are provided.
In 1994, the Texas Department of Health made improving the delivery of preventive services a priority and established support systems throughout the State to encourage the implementation of PPIP. Specially trained registered nurses are stationed around the State to provide one-on-one instruction in the use of materials and PPIP implementation.
The Department also provided start-up funds to primary care sites Statewide, including several family practice residency programs, which have been successful change agents in implementing PPIP.
The Texas Department of Health has developed companion pieces including a 20-item comprehensive health risk assessment, a 10-item targeted risk assessment, and a self-administered risk assessment, which is currently being pilot-tested in a rural health department. The Department also has plans to customize the Personal Health Guide to focus on the specific health needs of citizens in Texas.
PPIP tools are part of the STEP-UP (Study To Enhance Prevention by Understanding Practice) clinical trial. STEP-UP, launched in 1997, involves 80 family practices and clinics across Northeast Ohio in urban, rural, and suburban areas, including large Amish populations.
The STEP-UP study evaluates a preventive service delivery intervention that is tailored to the unique characteristics of each practice. A nurse facilitator is assigned to each practice to identify special prevention-oriented needs of the practice population, such as immunizations, screenings, and counseling.
The STEP-UP manual provides tools for clinicians to use as-is or modify. PPIP materials included in the STEP-UP manual include adult and child preventive care flow sheets, child immunization flow sheets, posters, and patient reminder postcards.
The STEP-UP trial plans to continue using PPIP tools because they can easily be adapted to clinicians' needs as they work to enhance the delivery of preventive services to local patient populations.
The U.S. Air Force adopted the PPIP materials in 1995 and continues active use of the Clinician's Handbook, Personal Health Guide, Child Health Guide, and posters. The PPIP tools serve to stimulate discussions between clients and providers about preventive care. The timeline posters are displayed in the examining rooms of 84 family practice clinics.
The Air Force also uses the adult and child health guides as teaching tools and as a vehicle to encourage patients to be active participants in their own preventive care by keeping track of services received and future preventive care needs.
Current as of May 2000
Internet Citation:
PPIP in Practice: Case Studies. Put Prevention into Practice, May 2000. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/ppip/ppipcase.htm
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