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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Bernard J. Healey, PhD, James Sysko, JD, and Marc Marchese, PhD. Department of Health Care Administration and International Business, King's College, 133 N River St, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711, 570-208-5683, bjhealey@kings.edu

IS THERE AN ETHICAL WAY TO PREVENT TOBACCO USE? Due to the rapidly rising costs of health care for corporations, a health survey was developed and administered to employees in a manufacturing operation in Pennsylvania in January 2003. The purpose of the survey was to identify high-risk health behaviors practiced by employees of the business. One of the high-risk health behaviors uncovered by the survey was heavy tobacco use by employees. The rate was fifty-four percent, which is double the rate of both Pennsylvania and the United States. There was a strong statistical relationship between use of tobacco and lower educational levels (p = .001) and lack of physical activity (p = .017). There was also a strong relationship between using tobacco and consuming more than two alcoholic drinks per day (p = .000). This information prompted the employer to ban use of tobacco anywhere on company property all the way to the exit road from the plant. But as much as this program may be improving health among employees, ethical questions do arise. The employer has a legal obligation to maximize profits for shareholders and an ethical duty to ensure the health and safety of his or her employees; can the employer require mandatory worker participation in behavior modification? Will such a requirement compromise the limited legal principle of employee privacy and the qualified ethical maxim of personal choice? How far can we take the employer's right to manage employees behavior at work and the same time remain ethical?

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will become aware of the smoking habits in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
• Participants will understand the relationship between tobacco use and other high-risk health behaviors.
• To gauge and understand the balance of ethical concerns between the employer's interest in a healthy, profit generating workforce and the individual's rights to privacy and personal choice.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered