Cholesterol screening in the elderly: changing attitudes.

The purpose of this study was to assess an elderly population's (60-80 years old) attitudes toward health prevention and life-style change with a particular emphasis on cholesterol screening and management. A free cholesterol screen was offered to participants in exchange for completion of a 21-item questionnaire (including medical history, risk factors, attitudes on preventive health, eating patterns and demographic information). This study provides evidence for increasing awareness of elevated cholesterol levels as a risk factor for coronary heart disease. It also demonstrates that there is an attitude of willingness to modify dietary cholesterol and fat intake within this mobile elderly population.