In this study, we evaluated an inservice training program for public health nurses. The training program concerned arthritis screening and management of the disease in elderly subjects. Twenty-nine nurses were assigned randomly to experimental (training) or control conditions. Evaluation data from 158 interviews with patients showed that screening for arthritis was done twice as frequently by nurses in the experimental group, compared with that done by nurses who were not in the experimental group (P less than 0.01). Recommended management of arthritis was not correspondingly improved. Stronger inservice programs are discussed in light of the need to anticipate seasonal conflicts between arthritis care and preventive care for the elderly, to change habitual practice patterns, and to increase access to arthritis health professionals.