The check-up request, or health check, is common in adult patients seen in general practice. Although evidence of its usefulness in terms of morbidity and mortality is scarce or nonexistent, it is much more a question of satisfying the patient's request. Some authors recommend repeating regularly health check-ups, which are referred to as “periodic health examination of adults”. The health check-up procedure consists in a history-taking beginning with an openended question regarding the patient’s family and personal history, immunization status, as well as environmental and occupational risk factors, along with a clinical examination. In case of positivity, para-clinical examinations may be indicated in accordance with evidencebased medicine (EBM) data. Preventive measures may be proposed, also based on EBM data. These are available in the literature and on the Internet. The Electronic Preventive Services Selector (ePSS) is an easy-to-use Internet tool designed to help frontline practitioners and offered by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. For example, the screening, counseling, and preventive medications recommended and not recommended by the ePSS are presented for a 50-year-old man who is asymptomatic, non-smoker and sexually active. In conclusion, there is no standard health check-up; health check-up is much more a general practice consultation where the physician’s role is to be exhaustive in his anamnestic approach, his clinical examination and his knowledge of recommended preventive actions.
