PL89-749, passed in 1966, included a number of provisions for increasing participation of consumers in the improvement of the health care delivery system, including development of training programs to equip consumers for participation in the health planning process. The evaluation attempts to ascertain the direct effect of training programs on consumer participation by assessing differences in program content and structure, identifying training patterns and the resulting attitudinal and behavioral changes in the consumer trainees. It was found that format is a significant factor affecting trainee behavior, and that weekend retreat formats were associated with favorable outcomes such as attendance, program completion, trainee involvement in program planning, and increased health activities after the programs ended. A majority of trainees were women over 30; if young consumers are to be reached by these programs the training content must be altered to reflect their needs. Communication difficulties between consumers and providers due to educational, social, and economic status differences were clearly an obstacle. (NTIS)