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

Abstract #109189

Armenia Williams, DPA, RNC, FNP, School of Nursing, Georgia State University, P. O. Box 4019, Atlanta, GA 30302-4019, 404-651-4274, awilliam@gsu.edu and Judith L. Wold, PhD, RN, Georgia State University School of Nursing, P.O. Box 4019, Atlanta, GA 30302-4019.

Men who work in quarries are exposed to hazardous or health risk laden work patterns related to frequent injury, sedentary work assignments (use of heavy equipment or truck driving), and/or outdoor work in all kinds of weather. Such mining facilities are usually located in rural areas and employ from 25 to 85 people. Such small worksites seldom have adequate health insurance coverage for their employees. In addition, preventive services are lacking although safety measures are required by federal and state regulations. Rural settings have access problems for any type of health care service due to scattered populations and lower resident income. This interwoven pattern of risk and work pattern exposes the male miner to unusual levels of stress due to constant concern about risk of injury. Typical stress related behaviors for these workers are: smoking, excess alcohol intake, and lack of participation in exercise and healthy diet intake. A cardiovascular disease prevention program was implemented by the faculty and students from a southeastern school of nursing to work with quarry employees. The program, with educational objectives for students and research methodology geared to measure program outcomes, has led to behavior change and improved cardiovascular health status for the male employees of two granite quarry companies (twelve worksites) in Georgia. Pre-test/post/test methods demonstrate significant and healthy change in measured values for blood pressure and total cholesterol and in self-reported diet and physical activity behaviors. Smoking and alcohol intake showed no statistically significant change. A p value of .05 determined statistical significance.

Learning Objectives: The participant who attends this session should be able to

• Describe the access barriers for preventive health in rural populations.
• Analyze the link between the worksite risks of quarry work and stress related behaviors.
• Describe opportunities to improve the CVD status of male quarry workers through worksite programs delivered by school of nursing faculty and students.
• Compare pre-test and post-test findings that are statistically significant (p=.05).

Keywords: Occupational Health Programs, Rural Populations

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.

Recorded presentation