Promoting Behavior Change Among Working-Class, Multiethnic Workers: Results of the Healthy Directions-Small Business Study
Glorian Sorensen 1*,Elizabeth M. Barbeau 1,Anne M. Stoddard 2,Mary Kay Hunt 3,Kimberley Kaphingst 1,Lorraine Wallace 1
1 Dana-Farber Cancer Institute 2 New England Research Institute 3 Dana-Farber Cancer Intitute
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: glorian_sorensen{at}dfci.harvard.edu.
Abstract
Objectives: We examined the efficacy of a cancer preventionintervention designed to improve health behaviors among working-class,multiethnic populations employed in small manufacturing businesses.
Methods:Worksites were randomly assigned to an intervention or minimalintervention control condition. The intervention targeted fruitand vegetable consumption, red meat consumption, multivitaminuse, and physical activity.
Results: Employees in the interventiongroup showed greater improvements for every outcome comparedwith employees in the control group. Differences in improvementwere statistically significant for multivitamin use and physicalactivity. Intervention effects were larger among workers thanamong managers for fruit and vegetable consumption and for physicalactivity.
Conclusions: The social-context model holds promisefor reducing disparities in health behaviors. Further researchis needed to improve the effectiveness of the interventions.
Key Words:
Cancer, Exercise/Physical Activity, Health Promotion, Nutrition/Food, Prevention
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