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A free blood pressure test has led to lifestyle changes for many of those who got caught up in the Stroke Foundation’s most recent awareness campaign.
Last October the St Johns and other volunteers tested almost 40,000 people at 168 sites around the country, mostly outside supermarkets.
Almost half had raised blood pressure readings, and 13 percent were referred to a GP or nurse as a result of their reading.
Follow-up interviews nine weeks later indicated four in 10 of those tested were taking action to control their blood pressure.
Eight in 10 of those surveyed were able to identify ways to reduce their risk of stroke.
Foundation health promotion manager Julia Rout says that’s against the run of most health promotion campaigns, which fail to produce behaviour change.
Copyright © 2014, UMA Broadcasting Ltd
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