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SMOKING CESSATION IN A GROUP OF FOUNDRY WORKERS AGED 40 +. Elena-Ana Pauncu, PhD, MD, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes” Discipline of Occupational Health, Timisoara, Romania; Professor Dr. Dorin Bardac, Medical Faculty ”V.Papilian, Sibiu, Romania;
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SMOKING CESSATION IN A GROUP OF FOUNDRY WORKERS AGED 40 + Elena-Ana Pauncu, PhD, MD, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes” Discipline of Occupational Health, Timisoara, Romania; Professor Dr. Dorin Bardac, Medical Faculty ”V.Papilian, Sibiu, Romania; Dr. Mihaela Stoia, Department of Public Health, Sibiu, Romania; Dr. Mihaela Hărătău, Public Health Specialist, Romtens Foundation, Bucharest, Romania
Healthy Life……Healthy cities……Healthy workplaces……
Aim To present some results of a smoking cessation program developed in an enterprise, particularly in a foundry factory from Timisoara, Romania.
ROMANIA (01.07.2003) Population – 21,733,556 Surface – 238,391 km2
Action Level The workplace, a foundry factory (medium size enterprise) in Timisoara (Timis county / Romania)
Setting • The project took place in a foundry section of a metallurgic factory • Duration – 1 year (+ 1 year optional) • A local research was performed among the workers (questionnaire) • The employees working in the factory were divided in two groups, according to their age (the age limit was 40 years).
Tools / Methods • Questionnaire regarding the smoking habits applied to 186 workers. • Health education sessions (performed by Pneumologist + Public Health specialist) • Smoking cessation counseling – using the Counseling Medical Office established within the Pneumology Hospital very close to the enterprise) • Health status evaluation of the workers included in the study (medical examination and comparison of the data before and after the implementation of the program) • Tobacco Control Policy – elaboration and implementation
Why in a foundry ? • Smoking habits (high prevalence, around 65 %) • Nutrition habits (high cholesterol values) • Concurrence of professional exposure and unhealthy lifestyle
Occupational exposure of workers • Silica dust • Climate • Fumes • PAHs • Formaldehydes • Physical effort • Metal dust (iron, steel, non-ferrous, etc.) • Cigarette smoking
The chromatogram of the resin extract from foundry (continuous line) compared with a standard mixture of PAHs and other compounds (interrupted line). Column C8 (Octyl), elution 80% MeOH, detection at 254 nm (B - benzene, T - toluene, N - naphthalene, X - xylene, A -anthracene, F - fluorantene, P - pirene and C - crisen)
Comparison between the chromatograms of the foundry dust extract from the filter, in two different days
Questionnaire Research -Characteristics of Studied Groupsno persons with silicosis, same gender male
Questionnaire Research -CompanySmoking Profile
Elaboration / Implementation of a Tobacco Control Policy Steps (entire process took 1 year and was coordinated by the Safety Officer): • Establish a working group (Safety Officer, Occupational Health Physician, Human Resources Manager) • Get support from the management • Review existing regulations / initiatives • Develop the Policy • Reviewing the Policy with the management • Agreeing the Policy with the workforce (continuous process) – more informing them rather than getting their feed-back • Announcing the Policy • Implementing the Policy (it is young – 1 year almost)
Results • Initially, the percent of smokers was similar, 65%. • The adherence to the program was good, in both groups. Only 3% of participants’ dropped out after one or two months of the program. • The respiratory complains in the group aged 40 and older (G1) were more frequent, compared to those in the second group,(G2), younger than 40 years.
Results • The actual results are satisfactory • 12 persons in the G1 “older group” and • 6 persons in the “younger group” G2 became non-smokers after one month of program implementation, and • another 23 persons had a good response after six months of implementation.
Motivation of adherence at the cessation program • Impossibility to solve himself the problem • Need of saving money/personal reasons • Health related problems • Family attitude
Motivation to continuing smoking • Immediate consequences of cessation / withdrawal syndrome • The attitude of smokers – environment impact • Imperious need to smoke • Automatism related reasons • Personality
Evaluation • The results regarding the motivation for continuing smoking showed very diverse and interesting individual approaches. • The smoke free workplace policy played had an important role in changing the reaction of workers towards non-smoking into a positive one.