Workplace Wellness and Cancer Screening

Publication Date

July 2019

Location

LSU Health Medical Education Building

Document Type

Abstract

Start Date

26-7-2019 9:00 AM

End Date

26-7-2019 12:00 PM

Description

Everyday, over 1,500 people die of preventative cancers. In Louisiana, the burden of cancer is especially high. These cancers include breast cancer, cervical cancer, and colorectal cancer. Barriers to care include getting time off of work, not being able to make an appointment, or even fear. One of the most powerful tools to preventing cancer are screenings. In 2016, breast cancer screening rates in Louisiana were 78.1-81.8% while colorectal cancer screening was 64.1% and cervical cancer was 84%. The CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, states that 40% of all cancer related illnesses/death can be prevented with proper screening. Per the World Health Organization, employee wellness is a policy which assists in the making and implementing of a healthy environment and lifestyle for its workers. Through analyzing employee wellness initiatives at other institutions, this project provides recommendations to Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center (LSUHSC). Best practices from The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), University of Maryland, and the Louisiana Department of Health were utilized during this project. UAB focuses on the promotion of colorectal cancer screening and prevention while the University of Maryland requires completion of health activities by all employees throughout the year. UAB took initiatives such as sending the message through flyers, incentive systems, and creating pledges. A list of recommendations from these establishments was then compiled for administration at LSUHSC. Finally, visual aids and tools were created to support the project. UAB was able to increase their screening rates for colorectal cancer from 67.06% to 68.43% in just one year. LSUHSC is the employer of approximately 4,000 people. Based on data from other institutions, we hope to see an increase anywhere from 1-3% percentage points in data here at LSUHSC as well. LSUHSC must implement the following strategies to produce a successful employee wellness program. First and foremost, champions must be appointed. These champions will be able support and initiate the main goal: stop deaths from preventable cancers. Although LSUHSC has helpful programs which allow one to track their health by fitness tracking and meal planning, they can accomplish the specific goal of targeting preventable cancers through exercising awareness, advocating for using sick days to take care of screenings, and implementing a point by point incentive system which would then encourage participants.

Comments

Mentor: Donna L Williams, DrPH, MS, Director of Louisiana Cancer Prevention & Control Programs (LCP)

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Jul 26th, 9:00 AM Jul 26th, 12:00 PM

Workplace Wellness and Cancer Screening

LSU Health Medical Education Building

Everyday, over 1,500 people die of preventative cancers. In Louisiana, the burden of cancer is especially high. These cancers include breast cancer, cervical cancer, and colorectal cancer. Barriers to care include getting time off of work, not being able to make an appointment, or even fear. One of the most powerful tools to preventing cancer are screenings. In 2016, breast cancer screening rates in Louisiana were 78.1-81.8% while colorectal cancer screening was 64.1% and cervical cancer was 84%. The CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, states that 40% of all cancer related illnesses/death can be prevented with proper screening. Per the World Health Organization, employee wellness is a policy which assists in the making and implementing of a healthy environment and lifestyle for its workers. Through analyzing employee wellness initiatives at other institutions, this project provides recommendations to Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center (LSUHSC). Best practices from The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), University of Maryland, and the Louisiana Department of Health were utilized during this project. UAB focuses on the promotion of colorectal cancer screening and prevention while the University of Maryland requires completion of health activities by all employees throughout the year. UAB took initiatives such as sending the message through flyers, incentive systems, and creating pledges. A list of recommendations from these establishments was then compiled for administration at LSUHSC. Finally, visual aids and tools were created to support the project. UAB was able to increase their screening rates for colorectal cancer from 67.06% to 68.43% in just one year. LSUHSC is the employer of approximately 4,000 people. Based on data from other institutions, we hope to see an increase anywhere from 1-3% percentage points in data here at LSUHSC as well. LSUHSC must implement the following strategies to produce a successful employee wellness program. First and foremost, champions must be appointed. These champions will be able support and initiate the main goal: stop deaths from preventable cancers. Although LSUHSC has helpful programs which allow one to track their health by fitness tracking and meal planning, they can accomplish the specific goal of targeting preventable cancers through exercising awareness, advocating for using sick days to take care of screenings, and implementing a point by point incentive system which would then encourage participants.