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Biomedical subjects

J E Fielding

Publications and source records attributed to J E Fielding.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Immunization status of children of employees in a large corporation.

OBJECTIVE: To assess immunization levels for children of employees of a large corporation. DESIGN: A mail survey of a random sample of employees on the immunization history of one child per family. SETTING: US employees of Johnson & Johnson. PARTICIPANTS: 1500 employees with children born between 1984 and 1991. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Coverage rates for recommended vaccines at different ages up to 6 years. MAIN RESULTS: Only 45.2% and 55.3% of the study children at ages 2 and 6 years were current for all recommended immunizations (65.1% and 70.3%, respectively, excluding the Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine). Using the minimum standard required by many states for school entry, the coverage level at age 6 years was 90.4%. Factors associated with higher immunization rates at age 2 years were the corporate health plan (choices), higher pay level, greater parental formal education, white race, and knowing when to initiate immunization. Lower immunization rates at age 2 years were associated with delayed receipt of the first dose of diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccine, use of city or county clinics, employee-reported barriers of difficulty leaving work, and provider access problems, but not cost of services. After adjusting for the effects of other variables through logistic regression, race, pay level, and plan choice were no longer significant. Modeling with the remaining variables predicted rates of adequate immunization at age 2 years from 15% to 81%. CONCLUSION: Even in this relatively affluent group with good insurance (including immunizations), preschool immunization rates did not reach public health goals. Changing modifiable factors, such as knowing when to initiate immunization, enabling parents to leave work more easily, and improving provider access, might improve preschool immunization rates.

Child↗
PubMed1994

Evaluation of the IMPACT blood pressure program.

To evaluate the incremental effectiveness of a work-site blood pressure control program, we conducted a randomized, controlled trial at four work sites with established health promotion programs. Workers with blood pressures of 140/90 mm Hg or higher were eligible. Eighty subjects were assigned to receive a referral to a community physician, monthly 10-minute work-site counseling sessions including blood pressure readings, and personalized mailings, whereas 79 control subjects received only a physician referral. Results for 74 intervention and 71 control subjects were obtained after 1 year. As compared with control subjects, intervention subjects experienced average declines of 8.5/3.9 mm Hg. Adjusted for age, sex, and baseline blood pressure, the decreases were 7.6 mm Hg for systolic and 2.4 mm Hg for diastolic blood pressure. These results suggest that counseling of high-risk persons and personalized mailing programs can have an incremental benefit in controlling blood pressure.

Counseling↗
PubMed1994

An evaluation of Duke University's LIVE FOR LIFE health promotion program on changes in worker absenteeism.

The effect of an employer-sponsored health promotion program on worker absenteeism is examined over a 4-year period in a group of 4972 Duke University hourly employees. Program participants experienced an average of 4.6 fewer absentee hours in the third year of program availability than did nonparticipants, after controlling for baseline absenteeism, gender, race, education, and age. These results suggest that employer-sponsored health promotion initiatives can have a favorable influence on absenteeism.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed1992

The impact of legislation on self-reported safety belt use in a working population.

To assess the impact of safety belt laws, we compared self-reported use of safety belts among employed residents of states with primary, secondary, and no laws in a group of 17,830 volunteer health profile participants. Failure to wear safety belts at least 80% of the time was reported by 22% of subjects covered by primary laws, 23% of those covered by secondary laws, and 39% of those not covered by any law.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1991

Prevalence and characteristics of employees reporting heavy or problem drinking.

INTRODUCTION: This study examined the prevalence and demographic characteristics of chronic heavy drinkers, binge drinkers, those who report a problem with alcohol, and those at high risk for alcohol-related problems. METHODS: The sample comprised a worksite population of 18,053 employees. The study was based on responses to questions contained in a confidential health profile administered to employees at seven companies by an outside vendor (Johnson & Johnson Health Management, Inc.). RESULTS: Almost 1 in 4 participants (23.0%) was found to be at risk for alcohol-related problems. About 1 in 5 respondents (20.1%) reported binging, 1 in 10 reported chronic heavy drinking (9.8%), and 2.6% reported a drinking problem within the past month. Younger respondents were more likely to report binging but older respondents were more likely to report chronic heavy drinking. Men were more than twice as likely to report binging and almost four times as likely to report chronic heavy drinking, but only one and one-half times as likely to report a drinking problem within the past month. Other differential demographic associations with alternative measures of heavy drinking are described. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that a health profile administered at the worksite can be an effective screening tool for identifying employees at high risk for alcohol-related problems.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Correlates of motor-vehicle safety behaviors in working populations.

To determine the prevalence and correlates in a working population of failure to wear seat belts, drinking and driving, and speeding, we examined the responses of 18,046 health-profile participants. Twenty-four percent of subjects reported failure to wear seat belts at least 80% of the time. Twenty-two percent reported speeding at least 10 miles per hour over the speed limit when traffic permits. Twenty-three percent reported traveling at least once a month with a driver who had two or more drinks. Correlates of high-risk behaviors included male gender and youth. Educational attainment was inversely associated with seat-belt nonuse but directly related to speeding and drinking/driving. Our findings suggest a substantial opportunity to help employees lower important risks for serious motor-vehicle injury.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1991

Utilization of preventive health services by an employed population.

To determine the utilization rates of selected preventive services in an employed population, we analyzed the responses of 18,053 health profile participants. Overall utilization rates for preventive services were high: 86.0% of respondents had their blood pressure checked, 94.0% of all women had a Pap smear and 81.3% had clinical breast examinations, 42.4% of respondents aged 40 and older had a rectal examination and 31.8% of those aged 50 and older had a test for occult blood in the stool, and 33.7% had a routine sigmoidoscopy. With the exception of blood pressure screening, the percentage of our respondents utilizing preventive services was considerably higher than the corresponding percentages in the US population as reported in the National Health Interview Survey. Nevertheless, the results suggest substantial opportunity for employers to encourage the appropriate use of preventive health services among employees.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Occupational health physicians and prevention.

Occupational medicine has added the promotion and maintenance of employee health to the traditional concerns of safety and workplace exposures. Attention to these areas of health management has been spurred by growing recognition of the adverse impact of preventable or controllable risk factors in health benefit and disability costs and employee productivity. The four major prevention opportunities for occupational physicians are helping to inculcate effective preventive services in health benefit plans, providing cost-effective and health-effective services directly to employees, initiating and coordinating work site health promotion and employee assistance programs, and using results of health surveillance of employees to formulate preventive strategies and to evaluate their effectiveness.

Health Benefit Plans, Employee↗
PubMed1990

Worksite health promotion survey: smoking control activities.

As part of the National Worksite Health Promotion Survey, a representative sample of worksites across the United States with 50 or more employees was asked about the presence and types of activities they sponsor to promote smoking control. Smoking control activities were reported at 35.6% (CI 32.6-38.6) of all worksites. Among worksites with any smoking control activity 76.5% (CI 71.7-81.3) had a formal policy restricting smoking, 54.3% (CI 48.7-59.9) provided information about the harmful effects of smoking, and 49.6% (CI 44.4-54.8) made self-help materials available. Individual counseling, group classes, workshops, follow-up support and reinforcement, or special events were available at 38.3% (CI 32.9-43.7) of worksites with any smoking control activities. Frequency increased as worksite size increased, with large frequency differences between the smallest and largest worksites. Smoking policies were most often put into effect to protect the health of nonsmokers (39.1%, CI 32.1-46.1) or to comply with regulations or laws (38.2%, CI 32.2-44.2). The most frequently reported benefit to the worksite of smoking control activities was improved employee health (35%, CI 26.2-43.8). Benefits were considered to outweigh the cost of activities at 36% (CI 29.6-42.4) of worksites, although 41.7% (CI 34.7-48.7) said it was too soon to gauge the relative size of costs and benefits.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Effect of a comprehensive health promotion program on employee attitudes.

A 2-year study was conducted to evaluate the effect of a health promotion program on the work-related attitudes of employees. The study employed a quasi-experimental design with nonequivalent control groups. The change in employee attitudes at companies that participated in the program was significantly greater and more favorable than that found at nonparticipating companies. Significant change was found on attitudes toward organizational commitment, supervision, working conditions, job competence, pay and fringe benefits, and job security.

Analysis of Variance↗