Biomaterial Database

Evaluation of a school-site cardiovascular risk factor screening intervention. 1993

K Resnicow, and D Cross, and J Lacosse, and P Nichols

American Health Foundation, New York, New York 10017.

BACKGROUND Though several published reports have demonstrated the feasibility of conducting school-site cardiovascular risk factor screening programs as well as the ability of such programs to detect high-risk children and parents, less is known about their cognitive and behavioral impact. METHODS Four Michigan elementary schools received a cardiovascular risk factor screening intervention twice between spring 1989 and spring 1990 and four other area schools served as comparison sites. All eight schools received the Michigan Model Comprehensive School Health Education Program. RESULTS Among participating students (n = 1,166) and their parents (n = 514), significant favorable changes in relevant health knowledge as well as attitudes regarding nutrition and early detection of disease relative to comparison student (n = 480) and parents (n = 158), were observed. There was also a significant decrease in students' self-reported intake of high-fat foods and parents of children who participated were themselves significantly more likely to report having had their cholesterol and blood pressure tested. CONCLUSIONS This quasi-experimental study suggests that school-based risk factor screening programs can positively influence the knowledge, attitude, and behavior of schoolchildren and their parents and may, therefore, represent a potentially effective adjunct to traditional curricular approaches to disease prevention and health education as well as an alternative means of early detection.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007722	Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice	Knowledge, attitudes, and associated behaviors which pertain to health-related topics such as PATHOLOGIC PROCESSES or diseases, their prevention, and treatment. This term refers to non-health workers and health workers (HEALTH PERSONNEL).	Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
D008297	Male		Males
D008403	Mass Screening	Organized periodic procedures performed on large groups of people for the purpose of detecting disease.	Screening,Mass Screenings,Screening, Mass,Screenings,Screenings, Mass
D008824	Michigan	State bounded on the north by the Great Lakes, on the east by Canada, on the south by Wisconsin, Indiana, and Ohio, and on the west by Lake Michigan and Wisconsin.
D010290	Parents	Persons functioning as natural, adoptive, or substitute parents. The heading includes the concept of parenthood as well as preparation for becoming a parent.	Step-Parents,Parental Age,Parenthood Status,Stepparent,Age, Parental,Ages, Parental,Parent,Parental Ages,Status, Parenthood,Step Parents,Step-Parent,Stepparents
D010809	Physical Fitness	The ability to carry out daily tasks and perform physical activities in a highly functional state, often as a result of physical conditioning.	Fitness, Physical
D001794	Blood Pressure	PRESSURE of the BLOOD on the ARTERIES and other BLOOD VESSELS.	Systolic Pressure,Diastolic Pressure,Pulse Pressure,Pressure, Blood,Pressure, Diastolic,Pressure, Pulse,Pressure, Systolic,Pressures, Systolic
D001827	Body Height	The distance from the sole to the crown of the head with body standing on a flat surface and fully extended.	Body Heights,Height, Body,Heights, Body
D001835	Body Weight	The mass or quantity of heaviness of an individual. It is expressed by units of pounds or kilograms.	Body Weights,Weight, Body,Weights, Body
D002318	Cardiovascular Diseases	Pathological conditions involving the CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM including the HEART; the BLOOD VESSELS; or the PERICARDIUM.	Adverse Cardiac Event,Cardiac Events,Major Adverse Cardiac Events,Adverse Cardiac Events,Cardiac Event,Cardiac Event, Adverse,Cardiac Events, Adverse,Cardiovascular Disease,Disease, Cardiovascular,Event, Cardiac