Who participates in cardiovascular disease risk factor screenings? Experience with a religious organization-based program

Abstract

Adult members who declined participation in cardiovascular disease risk factor screenings offered at religious organizations were randomly selected and asked to participate in screenings at their homes. Relationships between screening participation and sociodemographic, behavioral, and physiological measures were examined. Age, knowledge of cardiovascular disease risk factors, body mass index, current smoking status, previous report of elevated blood pressure, current diastolic blood pressure measurement, frequency of worship service attendance, and residential distance from the religious organization screening site were important predictors of screening response. Those with conspicuous risk factors appeared less likely to initially respond to religious organization site screening invitations.