As part of a Norwegian campaign to reduce serum cholesterol levels, the general public of the City of Bergen was invited to participate in cholesterol testing in October 1988. Participants received the results of the cholesterol screening and nutritional information from trained health personnel. In order to evaluate selected aspects of the campaign, a short questionnaire was mailed to all 354 participants 1-2 weeks after the initial cholesterol screening, and then again one year later. Participation-rate exceeded 90% at both surveys. Demographic variables and cholesterol levels were obtained at baseline, whereas participants' perceptions and reactions to the campaign, as well as their intentions to change eating patterns were assessed both in 1988 and in 1989. In addition, whether or not participants had had their cholesterol remeasured during the past 12 months (and if so, the result) as well as implemented dietary changes were assessed in October 1989. Results from this study showed that cholesterol screening was perceived very positively by the participants, that participants with a high baseline cholesterol level reported that they intended to make dietary changes, and that they, one year later, reported to have implemented a number of health enhancing dietary changes. A smaller, but substantial proportion of the population did, however, report becoming alarmed when receiving the test results. Subjects who did not experience a reduction in cholesterol level over the next year remained alarmed. Thus, cholesterol screening has the potential of creating fear concern and should, for this reason, be conducted by trained health personnel only, and accompanied by appropriate counselling.

Research Center for Health Promotion University of Bergen Norway