The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #64177

Charles Levenstein, Ph D¹, Deborah L. McLellan, MHS², Elizabeth M Barbeau, ScD, MPH², Greg DeLaurier, PhD¹, and Glorian C. Sorensen, PhD, MPH². (1) Department of Work Environment, University of Massachusetts Lowell, 1 University Avenue, Lowell, MA 01854, (978) 934-3268, Charles_Levenstein@uml.edu, (2) Center for Community-Based Research, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 44 Binney Street, Boston, MA 02115

A social gradient exists in some cancers, with working class people disproportionately suffering higher rates of disease. Class bias, higher exposures to occupational hazards, and less healthy lifestyles may contribute to these higher rates of disease. Labor unions have traditionally fought for health and safety gains, and are increasingly interested in health promotion. New efforts are underway to build labor-public health coalitions around cancer prevention. Papers for this session are described below.

Class and cancer: Dr. Levenstein will moderate the session. He will provide an overview of class-related disparities in cancer, identify stakeholders to assist in cancer prevention issues for the working class, and discuss challenges to building labor-public health coalitions.

Integrating occupational health and health promotion: incorporating social context to reduce tobacco use among blue-collar workers: Ms. McLellan will present findings from a randomized controlled trial indicating that among blue-collar workers, addressing smoking cessation in the context of occupational hazards, resulted in doubling the quit rate, compared to addressing smoking cessation alone. She will also discuss efforts to bring together the labor and tobacco control movements to reduce smoking among workers.

Working with labor unions in the building trades on cancer prevention: Dr. Barbeau will report the results of a pilot study on smoking cessation in the context of unionized building trades apprenticeship training programs. She will also provide evidence from a national study with a building trades union about how unions can provide assistance to their members on cancer prevention.

Discussion: Dr. DeLaurier will lead the discussion.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify 3 challenges to building labor-public health coalitions.
• State 3 ways to incorporate the social context to reduce tobacco use among blue collar workers.
• Discuss 3 ways unions can address cancer prevention with their members.

Keywords: Labor, Cancer Prevention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Organized Labor and Tobacco Control Network
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Receive funding from this grant-funded network