Blue-collar workers are nearly twice as likely to be current smokers as white-collar workers, and this gap has been widening over time. Though they make as many quit attempts per year as their white-collar counterparts, blue-collar workers are less likely to succeed. Effective interventions applied in community-based channels that reach blue-collar workers are needed to reduce this growing disparity. Building trade unions are a potentially important, but largely unevaluated, channel for intervening with this population to reduce smoking prevalence. The proposed study builds upon our recently-completed pilot study in collaboration with 3 building trade union apprenticeship programs aimed at assessing smoking behaviors and determining the feasibility and effect size of a smoking cessation intervention. Pilot study results confirm that this population of workers is at very high risk of smoking (43% prevalence), that building trade unions can be recruited to a smoking cessation trial, and that our planned interventions are feasible and result in positive changes in smoking behavior. The proposed study uses a cluster randomized clinical trial study design to assess: (1) the efficacy of a smoking cessation intervention among unionized apprentices in the building trades; (2) the determinants of smoking cessation; and (3) the adoption (recruitment into the trial) among eligible apprenticeship programs, reach of the intervention among potential participants, elements of successful implementation and best processes of intervention activities delivered; and cost-effectiveness of the intervention. The intervention is based on prominent behavioral theories, empirical evidence from the peer-reviewed literature, and the US Public Health Service's guideline on smoking cessation, and it taps into essential elements of union culture. It will consist of: a toxics and tobacco curriculum module that includes information about disaster-related threats; group-based behavioral counseling; nicotine replacement therapy; do-it-yourself quit-kits; environmental cues for cessation; and written materials and quit groups for co-workers, friends, and family members. The study is innovative in its approach to intervening through building trade unions. If shown to be effective, this intervention could be readily disseminated to a national network of building trade union apprenticeship programs, which collectively train approximately 183,000 apprentices each year.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Center for Chronic Disease Prev and Health Promo (NCCDPHP)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DP000097-02
Application #
6952854
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZCD1-GZK (R2))
Program Officer
Colley Gilbert, Brenda J
Project Start
2004-09-30
Project End
2007-09-29
Budget Start
2005-09-30
Budget End
2006-09-29
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2005
Total Cost
$494,512
Indirect Cost
Name
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Department
Type
DUNS #
076580745
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02215
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