Virginia H Sublet, PhD, RPh Senior Toxicologist, ORISE

Max R Lum, Ed D, MPAAssociate Director, Office of Health Communication, NIOSH

Health Communication Interventions in the Workplace: Where is the Value?

Objectives

To characterize and assess the scope and use of behavioral theory in developing and communicating safety and health messages to workers.

To examine the extent strategies were evaluated to improve health protection in the workplace.

Methods Used to Search for Studies

Traditional computer searches of >20 databases

Experts internal and external to NIOSH

Reference lists from current literature

Interventions in the Following Sectors

Agriculture

Automotive

Beryllium

Firefighters

Health care

Mining

Construction

Postal

Oil and sand

Studies Categorized by

Study design

Target audience

Theory

Health communication channel

Intervention

Extent of evaluation

Study Target Workers Design Theory Channel Intervention Eval

Welbourne, J, et al 2005

Firefighters, 781 Fire Chiefs

R, Telephone survey

TPB and P

Print Alert S

Stephenson,MT, et al, 2005

Coal miners 307 Field Study Persuasion

Print Postcards S

Helmkamp,JC, et al, 2004

Loggers Field study, Pre-Post

TMC Film and print

Video and safety guide

S- P-P, 6 Mo

Kidd, P et al, 2003

Teenage farmers, Injury Prevention

QE, Pre-Post TMC Simulated Action, Narrative

Physical and narrative simulations

Ob, 1 year

Lusk, S, et al, 2003

Factory Workers E, R, C, Pre-Post HPM Print,

Computer Tailored messages via computer in sound proof booth

S 6-18 Mo

Elkind,P, et al, 2002

Hispanic, farm workers

QE, Pre-Post Novella Storytelling Short Plays S, I

Farmer, F et al, 2002

FerneryWorkersPesticides

QE, Pre-Post Data, FR, ER

SMT Print Brochures andMobile hand-washing unit

S

Guidotti, T et al, 2000

Oil and sands workers

Demonstration HBM,SMT

Mass Media Media campaign, mascot, TV, schools, safety audit

S

Theoretical Basis for Studies

Theory of Planned Behavior

Stage Model of Persuasion

Health Promotion Model

Social Cognitive Theory

Novella Theory

Theoretical Basis for Studies

Social Marketing Theory

Extended Parallel Process Model

Health Belief Model

Transtheoretical Model of Change

Cognitive Learning Theory

Communication Channels

Mass media

Film

Simulations

Verbal

Audio

Computer

Storytelling

Print materials

Mail

Intervention:

Tailored Messages and Simulations

Goal- to improve worker use of hearing protection equipment

Source- Kidd, P, Reed, D, Weaver, L, Westneat, S, Rayens, MK, The Transtheoretical Model of Change in Adolescents: Implications for Injury Prevention, J of Saf Res, 34(3) 281-288, 2003

Intervention:

Storytelling and Plays

Goal- to teach farm workers who do not speak English about occupational health and safety.

Source Elkind, P, Pitts, K, Ybarra, SL, Theater as a Mechanism for Increasing Farm Health and Safety, Am J Ind Med, 2:28-35, 2002

Intervention:

Social Marketing and Hand-washing Station

Goal- to decrease pesticide exposure to fernery workers.

Source: Elkind, P, Pitts, K, Ybarra, SL, Theater as a Mechanism for Increasing Farm Health and Safety, Am J Ind Med, 2:28-35, 2002

Evaluation

Many studies included a reaction survey at the end of the intervention.

Few studies utilized impact evaluation.

Conclusion

More rigorous utilization of theoretical-based constructs and evaluation may improve the effectiveness of health communication interventions.