A comparison of participants and nonparticipants in a worksite cholesterol screening.

PURPOSE

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.

DESIGN

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

SETTING

A large university worksite was the setting for this study.

SUBJECTS

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.

MEASURES

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.

DISCUSSION

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.