September 8, 1999
Dana-Farber brings cancer prevention program to Boston area small businesses
Center for Community-Based Research Seeks Volunteer Companies
Recognizing the significant role small businesses play in the health of the nation's economy, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute's Center for Community-Based Research (CCBR) is embarking on an innovative work site cancer-prevention program focused on the health of employees.
Building on its experience of delivering work site cancer prevention programs to more than 100 businesses throughout Massachusetts, the Institute's CCBR seeks to enroll approximately 24 businesses with 50 - 150 employees in to the "Small Business Cancer Prevention Project". The study will examine intervention strategies and their effect on changing employee behavior to improve diet and increase exercise, and management activity to create and maintain a safe and healthy workplace. The study is fully funded by the National Cancer Institute and free to those who participate.
The two-year project will be customized for each business enrolled to ensure compatibility with existing company policies and procedures. Principal Investigator and Director of CCBR, Glorian Sorensen, Ph.D., MPH says the benefits of this initiative go beyond the fundamentals of a healthy lifestyle and workplace safety. She said, "While the primary goal to foster change at the employee level, the benefits for the business as a whole can include the reduction of healthcare and insurance costs, lower absenteeism, higher employee productivity as well as higher company morale and employee satisfaction."
Additionally, Sorensen also points out that in today's competitive job market, employers are searching for new, tangible ways to attract and retain qualified workers. "This type of program demonstrates to employees that you care about them, their families and their health." she said.
Businesses interested in enrolling in the study will be asked a series of questions to determine eligibility. Once enrolled, each business will be randomly assigned to one of two Programs - A or B - that will receive a different set of prevention strategies. Program A companies will receive a wide range of health-related activities focusing on diet and exercise as well as free industrial hygienist's services to assess potential exposure to hazardous materials. Program A companies will also receive confidential consultation on work site hazard control methods and technical assistance on regulatory requirements.
In contrast, Program B companies will receive minimal contact from project staff and will serve as the comparison group so that we can track the results of our study. In addition, all Program B companies will be offered free on-site smoking cessation classes for all interested employees.
Businesses will be asked to provide Dana-Farber researchers with staff time, the ability to hold regular meetings and time for employees to complete several information-gathering surveys that are necessary to measure the results of the program. All information gathered will be completely confidential and will only be provided in aggregate to the employers. No identifiers or methods to determine which employees response to the program and which do not, will be provided to any employer in the study.
"The goal of the project is that by the end of the study, employees in Program A companies will be getting more exercise, will be eating a healthier diet and will be better protected from hazardous materials because of study activities" said Sorensen. At the conclusion of the project, both Program A and Program B companies will receive information on maintaining diet, exercise and workplace health and safety programs.
Small businesses interested in enrolling in this project should contact Lorraine Wallace, Project Director, Center for Community-Based Research, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 617-632-5037.
Created in 1992, Dana Farber's Center for Community-Based Research works in close collaboration with local businesses and community organizations to examine real-life situations and understand both environmental and individual-specific factors that may play a role in reducing cancer risk.
