Work-site cholesterol screening and dietary intervention: the Staff Healthy Heart Project. Steering Committee

The Staff Healthy Heart Project was established to run a work-site cholesterol screening project and a randomized controlled trial of dietary interventions.

Screening was offered to all staff at six Australian hospitals. Participants with blood cholesterol of 5.2 mmol/L (200 mg/dL) or above were randomly allocated to receive screening only (control group), a self-help package, or a nutrition course. Participants were seen 3 and 6 months after intervention to measure blood cholesterol and dietary changes.

Eighty percent of available staff (n = 2638) were screened. Of those eligible, 67% (n = 683) entered the trial. Follow-up measures of blood cholesterol and dietary intake were obtained for 63% and 38% of trial participants, respectively. A reduction in reported dietary fat was found for all groups, but there were no significant differences between groups. Reported dietary fiber rose by 0.6 g/MJ/day for those in the nutrition course. There were no changes in total blood or high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

Cholesterol reduction was not demonstrated, but this result is difficult to interpret given the poor ongoing participation rates. Strategies to improve ongoing participation in work-site projects are needed to achieve adequate assessment of dietary interventions used in cholesterol screening.