Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #106632

Virginia Hill Sublet, PhD, RPh, Senior Toxicologist, Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Educaation, 8436 Woburn Court, Windermere, FL 34786, 407 909-4744, vxs3@cdc.gov and Max Lum, MPA, EdD, Office of the Director/Office of Health Communication, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 200 Independence Ave, S.W., Washington, DC 20201.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is strongly committed to conducting research that can be effectively applied to improve worker health and safety. NIOSH has a compelling interest in using health communication interventions in the occupational setting because of the potential to promote long term positive behavior modification in workers. Ultimately, workplace injury and illness rates may be reduced.

An important element of an effective health communication intervention is that it be theory-based. Theoretical approaches help researchers to identify and understand the different behaviors of workers and implement more effective interventions.

The objective of this study was to review the literature to summarize the status of theory-based health communication interventions in occupational health and safety. To accomplish this goal, health communication studies were identified using several search strategies including computer searches, experts, and reference lists from peer-reviewed journal articles. As a result of this effort, twenty studies were selected from a variety of workplace sectors. The investigators categorized studies based upon overall study design, target audience, theory, health communication channel, intervention, extent of evaluation, and lessons learned. The findings from the analysis indicated that utilizing theoretical behavior-based constructs and evaluation may result in more effective workplace interventions. This presentation will focus on the innovative interventions used in the selected studies, lessons learned, and recommendations for future health communication interventions to improve research to practice impacts in the workplace.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, attendees will be able to

Learning Objectives
• Recognize the importance of using behavioral theory in developing effective health communication interventions.
• Describe the innovative health communication approaches used by investigators in developing interventions.
• List recommendations for improving future health communication interventions in the workplace.

Keywords: Communication, Occupational Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.