Baseline behavioral assessment for the new Jersey Health Wellness Promotion Act.

Purpose: To determine baseline use rates for health-promoting behaviors of the recently adopted New Jersey Health Wellness Promotion Act and to examine the effects of demographic and socioeconomic factors on the use of preventive services included in the Act.

Design: A random telephone survey of 3094 households was conducted using questions from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System supplemented by questions related to provisions of the Act.

Setting: All New Jersey households.

Subjects: State representative adult sample of 1246 subjects.

Measures: Rates for getting timely screening tests, for obtaining influenza immunizations, and engaging in selected health-promoting behaviors.

Results: Rates for receiving recommended screening tests ranged from 0.88 for blood pressure testing to 0.29 for osteoporosis screening. According to bivariate analysis, having insurance was the most consistent determinant associated with receiving preventive services but was associated only with sigmoidoscopy, mammography, and Pap smear testing in the multivariate modeling. Reminders were significantly associated with respective screening tests. Age was positively associated with receiving the majority of tests. Gender ethnicity, education, and income affected receipt sporadically. Half the respondents were overweight and a quarter were current smokers.

Conclusions: Receipt of appropriate screening tests and adoption of health-promoting behaviors fell short of desired goals. Having health insurance increased receipt rates, but was not enough to achieve usage goals. Procedure-specific reminders may improve usage rates.