title: Work-site cholesterol screening and dietary intervention: the Staff Healthy Heart Project. Steering Committee.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Staff Healthy Heart Project was established to run a work-site cholesterol screening project and a randomized controlled trial of dietary interventions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Screening was offered to all staff at six Australian hospitals. Participants with blood cholesterol of 5.2 mmol/L (200 mg/dL) or above were randomly allocated to receive screening only (control group), a self-help package, or a nutrition course. Participants were seen 3 and 6 months after intervention to measure blood cholesterol and dietary changes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty percent of available staff (n = 2638) were screened. Of those eligible, 67% (n = 683) entered the trial. Follow-up measures of blood cholesterol and dietary intake were obtained for 63% and 38% of trial participants, respectively. A reduction in reported dietary fat was found for all groups, but there were no significant differences between groups. Reported dietary fiber rose by 0.6 g/MJ/day for those in the nutrition course. There were no changes in total blood or high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cholesterol reduction was not demonstrated, but this result is difficult to interpret given the poor ongoing participation rates. Strategies to improve ongoing participation in work-site projects are needed to achieve adequate assessment of dietary interventions used in cholesterol screening.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barratt
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Reznik
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Irwig
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cuff
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Oldenburg
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Horvath
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sullivan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D016272:Occupational Health; D017132:Workplace
chemical_list: D002784:Cholesterol