A mobile screening unit, practicalities and problems

The need for a mobile screening unit to travel throughout Scotland to measu re and modify cardiovascular risk factors in the apparently healthy working population was fulfilled by the conversion of a double-decker bus. The aim of the project was to assess the incidence of risk factors in healthy indi viduals and to modify their risk factors by individual counselling. Many un foreseen practical problems were encountered and overcome during the planni ng stage and during the project. The team of specially trained staff spent three and a half years screening more than 20,000 people throughout Scotlan d. This project provides a model for other screening projects involving a m ulticentre/scattered cohort.