Cholesterol education for seniors

CRISP (Cholesterol Reduction in Seniors Program) was the first multicenter study of cholesterol lowering in seniors. This year-long pilot study was sponsored by the National Institutes of Health to test the feasibility of a larger, longer trial. It included over 400 persons 65 years of age or older with LDLcholesterol levels between 160 and 200 mg/ dL. Participants in five areas of the country represented a broad spectrum of backgrounds. Although the project included a cholesterol-lowering medication, in keeping with National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) guidelines, all participants received nutrition counseling and information on the NCEP Step-I diet(l). In an effort to contain costs and save time, the preferred method of instruction was group education followed by individual counseling. The group education was conducted by a dietitian, but follow-up sessions could be conducted by other trained staff members. The pilot study was an appropriate time to evaluate the extension of professional resources by using group classes to educate a large number of seniors. Several teaching methods and tools were used to convey the nutrition eduCRISP Fat and Fiber Questionnaire