[Prophylaxis iodine deficit: information support].

An insufficient intake of micronutrients has massive and permanent nature and influence negatively to health, growth and vitality of the entire nation. One-third part of Russian schoolchildren suffer from deficiency of iron and iodine. Every year in Russia 215,000 children are born with brain damages associated with iodine deficiency. Raising the public awareness regarding the risks and prevention of micronutrient deficiency is the key issue of public health and nutrition. The study which included 4500 respondents in the Urals Federal District showed 2-4-fold increase awareness of the respondents in different positions after the communication campaign for prevention of micronutrient deficiency.

[Analysis of the flow of users of health services at a diagnostic center]. / Analiz potokov potrebitelei meditsinskikh uslug diagnosticheskogo tsentra.

A marketing investigation was carried out in 1998 in the Yekaterinburg Multiprofile Diagnostic Center in order to detect the problems in the activity of this institution and adopt the managing decisions. A random sampling of 405 subjects was selected, 58.8% of them were examined at the expense of budget financing and 41.2% for extra payment. The results indicate that 50.5% patients consulting the specialists of the Center were in need of diagnosis, 26.2% needed a more accurate diagnosis of a previously diagnosed condition, 9.4% patients consulted for correcting their treatment protocols, 8.4% were followed up at the Center, and 4.9% were examined within the framework of prophylactic check-ups. Half of patients were completely satisfied, about one-third were satisfied partially, and only 2% were not satisfied at the Center. 86.9% respondents aid that they would apply into the Center again, if necessary. The main sources of information of the city and region population were local physicians (52.7%), friends and relatives previously examined at the Center (19.8%). Marketing investigations in public health become an integral part of effective management under conditions of expanding the scope of marketing services in practical medicine.