A comparison of participants and nonparticipants in a worksite cholesterol screening.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study is to determine if worksite cholesterol screening reaches only those who are already aware of their cholesterol and interested in lifestyle modification.


METHODS
A voluntary worksite cholesterol screening was conducted followed by a survey of a random sample of nonparticipants.


METHODS
A large university worksite was the setting for this study.


METHODS
Out of 9,137 university employees, 1,583 attended the voluntary screening, and a random sample of nonparticipants was obtained (n = 154), of which 87% (n = 138) responded.


METHODS
Subjects completed a questionnaire on health behaviors, perceived risk, self-efficacy for diet change, and attention to media messages. A capillary blood cholesterol level was also taken.


RESULTS
Nonparticipants were more likely to be male (64% versus 39%) and smokers (17% versus 9%), more likely to exercise, to have had a prior cholesterol measurement (64% versus 49%), and to "know" their cholesterol value (56% versus 26%).  The two groups were otherwise similar.  Over half (51%) of the participants were receiving their first cholesterol measurement. These subjects were younger, less educated, had less perceived risk, were less attentive to media messages, and more likely to be from a minority group than those individuals who had prior measurements.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that worksite cholesterol screening does not only reach those already aware of their cholesterols, but also can reach some persons not previously screened or concerned.
Baylor College of Medicine, Ben Taub General Hospital, Houston, Texas 77030.
D J
DJ
Hyman
G
G
Paradis
J A
JA
Flora
D000328:Adult; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D016272:Occupational Health; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires