PARENT AND PHYSICIAN RESPONSE TO CHILDRENS CHOLESTEROL VALUES OF 200 MG DL OR GREATER - THE CHILD AND ADOLESCENT TRIAL FOR CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH EXPERIMENT/

Objective. To determine parental actions and concerns and physician re sponses to parental notification that a child's cholesterol value was 200 mg/dL or greater, a value recommended by the National Cholesterol Education Program to warrant physician follow-up and evaluation. Metho dology. A telephone survey of parents (n = 784) and physicians (n = 11 7) was carried out after parental notification of a total blood choles terol value obtained as part of measurement done while participating i n the Child and Adolescent Trial for Cardiovascular Health in 96 schoo ls located in California, Louisiana, Minnesota, and Texas. Results. On ly 20% of parents contacted physicians. Factors associated with this a ction included whether the parent was notified once or twice, the leve l of the cholesterol, previous cholesterol testing in the parent, and medical insurance that covered the visit. Family history of cardiovasc ular disease, when other factors were considered, did not increase the likelihood that a physician contact would be made. After contact with the physician, 59% of physicians reported evaluating children for cho lesterol; about half reported repeating the cholesterol determination. Conclusion. Parental knowledge of a child's cholesterol value of 200 mg/dL or greater did not result in substantially further seeking of he alth care.