Work site-based cancer prevention: primary results from the Working Well Trial

Abstract

Objectives: This paper presents the behavioral results of the Working Well Trial, the largest US work site cancer prevention and control trial to date.

Methods: The Working Well Trial used a randomized, matched-pair evaluation design, with the work site as the unit of assignment and analysis. The study was conducted in 111 work sites (n = 28,000 workers). The effects of the intervention were evaluated by comparing changes in intervention and control work sites, as measured in cross-sectional surveys at baseline and follow-up. The 2-year intervention targeted both individuals and the work-site environment.

Results: There occurred a net reduction in the percentage of energy obtained from fat consumption of 0.37 percentage points (P = .033), a net increase in fiber densities of 0.13 g/1000 kcal (P = .056), and an average increase in fruit and vegetable intake of 0.18 servings per day (P = .0001). Changes in tobacco use were in the desired direction but were not significant.

Conclusions: Significant but small differences were observed for nutrition. Positive trends, but no significant results, were observed in trial-wide smoking outcomes. The observed net differences were small owing to the substantial secular changes in target behaviors.