ABSTRACT
A high-risk notification program is in progress for 4,862 former chromate and bichromate production workers. A previous mortality study of this cohort found a 29-fold increase in mortality for respiratory cancer. The increase was greater in black than white workers (80-fold vs. 15-fold). The cohort was compiled from Social Security Administration records. Notification was performed mainly using addresses on file with the Internal Revenue Service. At this time, 68% of the cohort has either been determined to have died or has been contacted. A description of the various steps of notification is included. This project has demonstrated that it is possible to perform high-risk notification in an economical manner even in the absence of employer personnel records or current addresses. The methodology used in this project is generalizable to other cohorts.
Subject(s)
Chemical Industry , Chromates/adverse effects , Communication , Occupational Diseases/epidemiology , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Lung Neoplasms/epidemiology , Male , New Jersey/epidemiology , Occupational Diseases/chemically induced , Texas/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Since October 1985, the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) has required hospitals to report all patients with a discharge diagnosis of asbestosis. As follow-up to a needs assessment survey of these patients, the NJDOH developed an educational packet including an information bulletin titled "Asbestos Disease: Medical and Legal Facts for Employees" and a pre-stamped postcard evaluation survey. The packet was sent to 1,418 patients reported by hospitals; 433 patients returned the evaluation questionnaire. The survey assessed attitudinal responses (were the materials helpful and easy to understand?) and behavioral responses (did the respondent plan on discussing the materials with a doctor or lawyer?) to the information in the packet. Of the postcard respondents, 85% found the materials helpful, and approximately half indicated that they would discuss the materials with a doctor or lawyer. Of the 33% who were proxy respondents, half appeared not to have understood that the materials had relevance to them as family members. Modifications to the protocol for the asbestos disease educational packet were made based on the evaluation data. Limitations of the evaluation survey and the value of process evaluations in risk communication projects are discussed.
Subject(s)
Asbestosis/epidemiology , Communication , Health Services Needs and Demand , Patient Education as Topic , Public Health Administration , Aged , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Legislation, Hospital , Male , New Jersey/epidemiology , Population Surveillance , RiskABSTRACT
A survey was conducted of 1,079 individuals reported by New Jersey hospitals to the New Jersey State Department of Health. Forty-eight percent of the respondents indicated that they had not received financial compensation for their work-related disease; 415 different sources of exposure to asbestos were identified.
