This Article  • References  • Full text PDF  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Citing articles on Web of Science (83)  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in JAMA  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

A Pilot Study

Ernst L. Wynder, MD; Frank Field, OD; Nancy J. Haley, PhD

JAMA. 1986;256(20):2839-2842.

Abstract
A screening for plasma cholesterol levels was conducted at six sites in the New York metropolitan area and involved hospitals, health professionals, paraprofessionals, media experts, and instruments that provided cholesterol levels rapidly. During the five days of the testing, over 12 000 participants were screened. Because the program was limited to customary working hours and because of self-selection of participants, the subjects were probably an unusually health-conscious group as evidenced by the low prevalence of cigarette smokers (11%). Nevertheless, 12% were at moderate risk and 16% were at high risk for coronary heart disease. Approximately half of the population reported never having had their cholesterol levels tested, and over 40% had no idea what levels were optimal. A subsample of patients at risk was screened by telephone survey. In the majority of cases, when a patient's physician was consulted for advice, no action was recommended. Our results demonstrate that a large population screening can be implemented, that at least certain segments of the public will respond to such a program, and that educational efforts must be directed at both the public at large and physicians.

(JAMA 1986;256:2839-2842)

Author Affiliations
From the American Health Foundation (Drs Wynder and Haley), and WCBS-TV News, New York (Dr Field).

Footnotes
Reprint requests to American Health Foundation, 320 E 43rd St, New York, NY 10017 (Dr Wynder).

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter     What's this?

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Evaluating Cholesterol Screening: The Importance of Controlling for Regression to the Mean
Forrow et al.
Arch Intern Med 1995;155:2177-2184.
ABSTRACT  

Categories of Adverse Health Effects from Indoor Air Pollution
Weetman and Munby
Indoor and Built Environment 1994;3:200-212.
ABSTRACT  

Results of the Massachusetts Model Systems for Blood Cholesterol Screening Project
Havas et al.
JAMA 1991;266:375-381.
ABSTRACT  

Does Cholesterol Screening Result in Negative Labeling Effects? Results of the Massachusetts Model Systems for Blood Cholesterol Screening Project
Havas et al.
Arch Intern Med 1991;151:113-119.
ABSTRACT  

Impact of a Public Cholesterol Screening Program
Fischer et al.
Arch Intern Med 1990;150:2567-2572.
ABSTRACT  

Community Cholesterol Screening: Impact of Labeling on Participant Behavior
Gordon et al.
Arch Intern Med 1990;150:1957-1960.
ABSTRACT  

Within-Person Fluctuations of Serum Cholesterol and Lipoproteins
Mogadam et al.
Arch Intern Med 1990;150:1645-1648.
ABSTRACT  

A Public Health Model for Cardiovascular Risk Reduction: Impact of Cholesterol Screening With Brief Nonphysician Counseling
Gemson et al.
Arch Intern Med 1990;150:985-989.
ABSTRACT  

Physician Reaction to a Local Community Cholesterol Screening Program
Buchta et al.
Arch Intern Med 1989;149:2479-2481.
ABSTRACT  

Progress in Lipid Reporting Practices and Reliability of Blood Cholesterol Measurement in Clinical Laboratories in Nebraska: Efforts to Align Results With the Centers for Disease Control, and Feasibility of Meeting National Cholesterol Education Program Guidelines
McManus et al.
JAMA 1989;262:83-88.
ABSTRACT  

Physician Recognition and Treatment of Hypercholesterolemia
Landzberg and Heim
Arch Intern Med 1989;149:933-935.
ABSTRACT  

The Challenge of Lowering Blood Cholesterol Levels
Havas
Arch Intern Med 1988;148:1910-1913.
ABSTRACT  

A Clinician's Guide to the Office Measurement of Cholesterol
Burke and Fischer
JAMA 1988;259:3444-3448.
ABSTRACT  

Diagnostic Decision: Biochemical Profiles * Applications in Ambulatory Screening and Preadmission Testing of Adults
CEBUL and BECK
ANN INTERN MED 1987;106:403-413.
ABSTRACT