The potential of mobile health clinics in chronic disease prevention and health promotion in universal healthcare systems
Bertoncello, Chiara; Cocchio, Silvia; Fonzo, Marco; Bennici, Silvia Eugenia; Russo, Francesca; Putoto, Giovanni
Abstract
This Italian study examined a railway wagon-based mobile health clinic offering screening and counseling for noncommunicable diseases. Among 839 participants, the initiative successfully attracted higher-risk groups including foreign-born individuals, men, and those aged 50-69 years. Over 40% had newly identified or unmanaged hypertension or hypercholesterolemia, while 7% had undiagnosed diabetes. The counseling adherence rate reached 99.4%. The authors concluded that mobile health clinics effectively identify hard-to-reach individuals who might otherwise remain undiagnosed, serving as valuable complements to universal healthcare systems.