The FPbase microcomputer system for managing community health screening and intervention data bases.

Health promotion and intervention projects at State and community levels need computerized data bases to assist in making policy decisions and in operating the projects. Computer data base systems are used in entering, storing, retrieving, and analyzing information about health project activities and their participants in a timely and cost-effective manner. Computer support is essential for such labor-intensive tasks as post-screening followup of participants, identifying subpopulations, and evaluating recruitment efforts and behavior change programs. The Pawtucket Heart Health Program developed a microcomputer software package, FPbase, for community health project data base management. FPbase is described and is available for use by other organizations. FPbase incorporates formative and process interactive data base activities and is suitable for use in operating intervention and screening programs at State and local levels. The system accommodates management of data for social marketing, evaluation, followup, and promotional activities.