Cholesterol screening using the school as a worksite.
This article illustrates the appropriateness of the school as a worksite for health promotion programs and demonstrates how cholesterol screening is an effective tool to introduce such a program into a school system. Of 1,639 employees, 1,217 elected to have their cholesterol measured (74% response rate). Forty-five percent had elevated cholesterol according to the NIH Consensus Panel. Of these, 12% were in the "high" category (greater than or equal to 240 mg/dl) while 33% had levels that placed them in the "borderline high" risk category (200-239 mg/dl). Cholesterol screening can be incorporated easily into most school systems due to the presence of nursing staff and health educators. Systematic planning is essential for success and must include a counseling and educational intervention coupled with an active referral and follow-up program. This type of screening should be part of a multicomponent health promotion program.
Weinberg
A D
AD
Institute for Preventive Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX 77030.
Iammarino
N K
NK
Laufman
L
L
Trost
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012574:Schools; D013781:Texas
D002784:Cholesterol