The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners
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Attendance at health checks of patients already registered with a general practitioner is known to be poor, with those in need least likely to attend. Little is known of the efficacy of such checks for newly registered patients. ⋯ Attendance at registration health checks at these practices was poor and non-attenders tended to be more socially deprived than attenders and had relatively unhealthy lifestyles. Although the health checks increased the attenders' motivation to alter smoking and drinking habits, inviting all new patients to a health check would appear to result in poor targeting of health promotion resources and may widen inequalities in health.