Health Outcomes | Cholesterol Evaluation Measures

Health outcomes measures for cholesterol screening and control1-4

The effectiveness of cholesterol screening and control programs depends on the intensity of program effort and the use of multiple interventions. A rule of thumb is that the more programs implemented together as a package or campaign, the more successful the interventions will be.

Baseline

  • Determine levels of employee (age 20 years and older) cholesterol screening rates (in the past 5 years) and self-reported high cholesterol from employee health survey, health risk appraisal, or biometric screening. Examples include:
    • What percentage of employees have been screened by a clinician or in a worksite cholesterol screening program at least once in the previous 5 years
    • Note that generally worksite screening programs should not be used as a substitute for regular follow-up and treatment of employees with high cholesterol. These employees should be encouraged to obtain regular clinical follow-up care with their physician. Some worksites do provide case management for employees with high cholesterol by nurses or other qualified staff through an occupational health clinic
  • Determine baseline percentage of employees with health behaviors or conditions where individuals have a higher risk associated with high cholesterol such as obesity, nutrition, tobacco use, or being physically inactive
  • Determine levels of diagnostic and treatment procedures from health care and pharmaceutical claims data ◦Of those employee who were screened, what percentage of employees were referred for clinical diagnosis and treatment
    • How many cases of high blood cholesterol (i.e., hypercholesterolemia) were identified
    • Frequency of complications of high blood cholesterol such as heart attacks
  • Determine employee knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about cholesterol screening and control 
    • Evaluate employees’ current knowledge of the health benefits of cholesterol screening and control
    • Measure employee’s knowledge of their risks for high blood cholesterol
    • Assess employee awareness of existing workplace cholesterol screening and control programs, policies and benefits
    • Assess employee awareness of behaviors that may reduce high blood cholesterol risk, such as reducing obesity or overweight, nutrition, tobacco use, or being physically inactive

Process

  • Periodic repeats of baseline measures

Outcome

  • Assess changes in the numbers of employees receiving cholesterol screening
  • Assess changes in the percentage of employees who report high blood cholesterol levels
  • Assess aggregated changes in the percentage of employees with health behaviors or conditions where individuals have a higher risk associated with high blood cholesterol such as obesity, nutrition, tobacco use, or being physically inactive
  • Determine levels of diagnostic and treatment procedures from health care and pharmaceutical claims data
  • Assess changes in employee knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about cholesterol screening and control
    • Evaluate changes in employee knowledge of the health benefits of cholesterol screening and control
    • Measure changes in employee’s knowledge of their risks for high blood cholesterol
    • Assess changes in employee awareness of existing workplace cholesterol screening and control programs, policies and benefits
    • Assess changes in employee awareness of behaviors that may reduce high blood cholesterol risk
       
References

1.  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Framework for program evaluation in public health. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 1999;48(No. RR-11): 1-40.

2.  Matson Koffman DM, Goetzel RZ, Anwuri VV, Shore K, Orenstein D, LaPier T. Heart-healthy and stroke-free: successful business strategies to prevent cardiovascular disease. Am J Prev Med. 2005; 29(5), suppl. 1:113-121.

3.  Matson Koffman DM, Lanza A, Campbell KP. A Purchaser’s Guide to Clinical Preventive Services: A tool to improve health care coverage for prevention. Preventing Chronic Disease, April 2008; 5(2).

4.  Goetzel RZ, Ozminkowski RJ. Program evaluation. In: O’Donnell MP, editor. Health promotion in the workplace, 3rd edition. Albany, NY: Delmar Thomson Learning; 2002. p 116-165.