title: An experimental evaluation of an incentive program to reduce serum cholesterol levels among health fair participants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the impact of a health fair and incentive program on the reduction of serum cholesterol levels among participants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pretest-posttest control group design, with a 6-month delay between pretest and posttest screenings.
  
  
  METHODS
  Health fair program for employees of a large midwestern school district.
  
  
  METHODS
  Volunteer sample among persons with serum cholesterol levels above 5.17 mmol/L (200 mg/dL). Participants were randomly assigned to experimental (N = 29) and comparison groups (N = 34).
  
  
  METHODS
  The intervention consisted of four components: a health fair, health risk information, announcement of follow-up screening, and an incentive program. The incentive program consisted of five $100 cash prizes for reducing serum cholesterol levels by 20% or below 5.17 mmol/L (200 mg/dL). The comparison group received only the first three components.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum cholesterol levels were measured by a venipuncture, nonfasting, chemical analysis process.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The experimental group showed a 13.2% reduction in serum cholesterol levels, and the comparison group exhibited an 11.3% reduction (P < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A health fair, consisting of information on the level of risk and how to reduce risk, and announcement of follow-up screening and incentives can reduce the risk for cardiovascular disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Development, University of Kansas, Lawrence.
authors.forename: V T
authors.initials: VT
authors.lastname: Francisco
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Paine
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Fawcett
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Banks
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education; D006277:Health Fairs; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D012201:Reward
chemical_list: D002784:Cholesterol