[Knowledge of the utilization of preventive practices through a telephone survey]. / Conocimiento de la utilización de prácticas preventivas a través de la encuesta telefónica.

OBJECTIVES: To determine knowledge and use of preventive practices (cervical cytology, mammography and taking blood pressure) through a telephone survey. DESIGN: Crossover study. SETTING: Billabona Health Centre (Guipúzcoa). PARTICIPANTS: People over 15 in the Health Centre's catchment area. MAIN RESULTS: The sample size was 800 people. It reached 80% telephone coverage with a reply rate of 86.09% (278 men and 273 women). 76.5% of women stated they had heard of cervical cytology; and 80.2% mammography. 87.5% had had their blood pressure taken on some occasion. CONCLUSIONS: Both cervical cytology and mammography are well-known preventive procedures, although they could always be improved, whereas taking blood pressure is a widespread practice in all age-groups.