ABSTRACT
Middle-aged people with a serum total cholesterol of more than 220 mg/dl at the latest health examination (n=197) at a chemical company were invited to join a health education program for 6 months. Participants meeting inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to an intervention (n=96) and a control group (n=92). Periodical interviews and blood tests were performed every 2 months for both groups. The intervention group was educated by health professionals in the factories through programs developed for hypercholesterolemia. After a 6-month intervention, the reduction of cholesterol levels and the differences between the groups were analysed.The mean total cholesterol (TCH) levels at the baseline measurement were 239.7 mg/dl in the intervention group and 236.5 mg/dl in the control group. During the intervention period, decreased levels of TCH were 27.1 mg/dl for the intervention group and 18.5 mg/dl for the control group. Declines in body weight, TCH and triglyceride levels in the intervention group were significantly larger than those in the control group. The decline of apoprotein-B was also significantly larger in the intervention group while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels essentially did not change.The health education by health professionals proved to be useful in reducing the risk factor levels for coronary heart disease. These results suggest that health education would also be useful against other major risk factors in cardiovascular diseases.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To examine the effectiveness of newly developed materials for providing health-related information to the worksite population, we compared the amount of attention that employees paid to the materials.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Study subjects were 2,361 employees in six companies participating in an intervention program between 2002 and 2003. Three kinds of media were used as tools for providing health information: [1] Point Of Purchase advertising menus (POP menus) were placed on all tables in company restaurants, [2] posters were put on walls and [3] leaflets were distributed at health-related events. One year or more after the introduction of these media, we compared the amount of attention paid to each type of medium.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Amongst the three types of media, the POP menu drew the most attention, although results were not consistent in all gender and company groups. Every piece of information provided by the POP menus was "always" or "almost always" read by 41% of the men and 51% of the women surveyed. The corresponding rate for posters was 30% in men and 32% in women. For leaflets, only 16% of men and 22% of women read almost all of the leaflets. More attention was paid to the POP menu when the sample was women, older, and ate at the company restaurant at least three times a week.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The POP menu may provide health-related information to a broader range of people than posters and leaflets, therefore, it is an effective material for population strategy.</p>
ABSTRACT
Objective: To examine the effectiveness of newly developed materials for providing health-related information to the worksite population, we compared the amount of attention that employees paid to the materials. Methods: Study subjects were 2,361 employees in six companies participating in an intervention program between 2002 and 2003. Three kinds of media were used as tools for providing health information: [1] Point Of Purchase advertising menus (POP menus) were placed on all tables in company restaurants, [2] posters were put on walls and [3] leaflets were distributed at health-related events. One year or more after the introduction of these media, we compared the amount of attention paid to each type of medium. Results: Amongst the three types of media, the POP menu drew the most attention, although results were not consistent in all gender and company groups. Every piece of information provided by the POP menus was “always” or “almost always” read by 41% of the men and 51% of the women surveyed. The corresponding rate for posters was 30% in men and 32% in women. For leaflets, only 16% of men and 22% of women read almost all of the leaflets. More attention was paid to the POP menu when the sample was women, older, and ate at the company restaurant at least three times a week. Conclusion: The POP menu may provide health-related information to a broader range of people than posters and leaflets, therefore, it is an effective material for population strategy.
Subject(s)
Health , Population , AttentionABSTRACT
Middle-aged people with a serum total cholesterol of more than 220 mg/dl at the latest health examination (n=197) at a chemical company were invited to join a health education program for 6 months. Participants meeting inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to an intervention (n=96) and a control group (n=92). Periodical interviews and blood tests were performed every 2 months for both groups. The intervention group was educated by health professionals in the factories through programs developed for hypercholesterolemia. After a 6-month intervention, the reduction of cholesterol levels and the differences between the groups were analysed. The mean total cholesterol (TCH) levels at the baseline measurement were 239.7 mg/dl in the intervention group and 236.5 mg/dl in the control group. During the intervention period, decreased levels of TCH were 27.1 mg/dl for the intervention group and 18.5 mg/dl for the control group. Declines in body weight, TCH and triglyceride levels in the intervention group were significantly larger than those in the control group. The decline of apoprotein-B was also significantly larger in the intervention group while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels essentially did not change. The health education by health professionals proved to be useful in reducing the risk factor levels for coronary heart disease. These results suggest that health education would also be useful against other major risk factors in cardiovascular diseases.