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Tools for health: the efficacy of a tailored intervention targeted for construction laborers

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Abstract

Objectives

Novel approaches to worksite health promotion are needed for high-risk workers who change job sites frequently, and thus may have limited access to worksite health promotion efforts. The objective of this study was to test a behavioral intervention among construction laborers.

Methods

Using a randomized-controlled design, we tested the efficacy of a tailored telephone-delivered and mailed intervention to promote smoking cessation and increased fruit and vegetable consumption (n = 582).

Results

At baseline, 40% of control group participants and 45% of intervention group participants reported using any tobacco in the last seven days. At final, 8% of baseline cigarette smokers in the control group had quit, compared to 19% in the intervention group (p = 0.03). In both groups, the mean consumption of fruits and vegetables at baseline was over five servings per day. At final, the intervention group had increased consumption by approximately one and one-half servings, compared to a slight decrease in consumption in the control group (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

A tailored intervention can be efficacious in promoting tobacco use cessation and increased fruit and vegetable consumption among construction laborers, a high-risk, mobile workforce.

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Acknowledgments

This work was conducted with the support of a grant from the National Cancer Institute (grant number 5 R01 CA84387-04). This work would not have been possible without the contributions of the members and leaders of the Laborers’ International Union and Laborers’ Health and Safety Fund of North America. The authors thank Kitty Conlan, Carol Devine, Ruth Lederman, Kerry Kokkinogenis, Kim Nyugen, Deepa Naishadham for their contributions to this study and the development of this manuscript.

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Correspondence to Glorian Sorensen.

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Sorensen, G., Barbeau, E.M., Stoddard, A.M. et al. Tools for health: the efficacy of a tailored intervention targeted for construction laborers. Cancer Causes Control 18, 51–59 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-006-0076-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-006-0076-9

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