Awareness and use of blood cholesterol tests in 40-74-year-olds by educational level

Questions on awareness, use, and results of blood cholesterol tests were included in telephone surveys on cancer conducted in 1988 on random samples of persons 40-74 years of age in Long Island, NY (N = 440), and in Connecticut (N = 453). Educational level was significantly and positively associated with the proportions reporting ever having heard of blood cholesterol tests, ever having had a test done ("by a doctor"), and having a recent test, 1987-88, but not with the proportion reportedly having been told by a doctor that their cholesterol level was "high." In multivariate analyses, greater education (college graduate versus all others) and greater frequency of medical checkups (annual versus other) were significant independent predictors of ever having had a cholesterol test or having been tested in 1987 or 1988. Implications of findings were discussed with regard to monitoring changes over time in awareness and use of cholesterol tests according to educational level and to planning interventions aimed at less educated groups.