The role of community volunteers in health interventions: a hypertension screening and follow-up program.

Volunteers from a resident health committee in an apartment complex community carried out door-to-door blood pressure screening of residents. Their results were compared with those from a community where a resident health committee conducted central site screenings and with those of a community where nonresident researchers manned a central screening site. Door-to-door screening by community volunteers was significantly more effective than the two central site screening methods which did not differ from each other. Follow-up measures increased the number of hypertensives who reported seeking treatment by 100 per cent.