Worksite health promotion, Sept. 2008

"The good news is, we know what it takes to save millions of lives, and where efforts exist, they are working." - Bill Gates, Founder of Microsoft
"No smoker wants to be a smoker..." - Jeana Farelli, New York City artist

Worksite Health Promotion Vol. 2, Issue
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Helping Employees Quit Tobacco Use

Tobacco Use is Costly Tobacco use is a major risk factor for many diseases, including heart disease and cancer. Additionally, it complicates many other conditions from diabetes to infertility. According to the Georgia Division of Public Health, Over 10,000 Georgians die every year
from smoking-related illnesses. 22% of adult males and 18% of adult
females are smokers. Adult smokers lose an average of 16
years of life compared to adult nonsmokers.
Not only is tobacco use a significant health concern, it is a costly behavior, both for the individual and the health system at large. Here is some information of tobaccorelated costs in Georgia: An estimated $5 billion every year. Smoking accounts for $1.8 billion in
healthcare costs among adults 18 years and older. $3.3 billion in lost productivity costs among adults 35 years and older is attributable to smoking.
What Can Employers Do? 71% of employers indicate that the cost
of providing health care benefits to active employees is a top priority (Deloitte Consulting, LLP). 70% of smokers want to quit (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention).

What role does the employer have in addressing an individual's unhealthy behavior? In a 2002 survey of Georgia worksites, 93% had a formal tobacco policy. In addition to implementing a policy, there are other strategies employees can implement to help employees quit tobacco use (not just smoking). These strategies can be divided into two categories: carrots and sticks.
Carrots refer to the gentle, rewards-based approaches to steer someone towards the desired behavior. These can include: Offering incentives to employees who
quit tobacco use. Health insurance premium credits for
employees who do not use tobacco. Providing low/no-cost cessation
programs onsite. Offering subsidies to cover the cost of
cessation counseling.
Sticks are tougher, no-compromise approaches that demand a desired behavior. Examples of sticks are: Higher health premiums for tobacco
users. Surcharges for employees who indicate
that they use tobacco. Terminating violators of a smoking
policy.
The choice of the type of approach to take in addressing tobacco use in the worksite

varies depending on company size, resources, and other factors. There is no right or wrong approach, but a blend of these strategies is an effective way to address employees' tobacco use. As an example, a company that adopts a 100% tobacco-free policy should also provide cessation services to its employees prior to the effective date of the new policy. This will allow employees a chance to quit tobacco use without penalty. It will also ensure more successful quit attempts than going "cold turkey".
Available Cessation Resources When promoting tobacco cessation at the worksite, there is help available to businesses. Local resources can alleviate the burden of having to cover the full cost of a cessation program onsite, particularly for smaller companies. Below are some resources that can provide educational materials, training, and technical assistance for promoting employee health and wellness. These include: The Georgia Tobacco Quit Line. A list of community cessation resources
is available at http://health.state.ga.us/pdfs/chronic/tob acco/cessationlist.pdf. Local hospitals. Local health departments. American Lung Association. American Cancer Society.

WELLNESS WATCH
With rising gas prices, teleworking has become an alternative to daily commute to work for many employees. According to WorldatWork, approximately 45 million Americans worked remotely at least one day during all of 2006. Supporters of teleworking tout it as a solution to reduce emissions and improve air quality, as well as employee work-life balance. However, teleworking has benefits for the employer as well, including improved employee morale, reduced absenteeism and turnover, and increased productivity. Furthermore, teleworking can help keep other employees healthy by reducing exposure to cold and flu germs that spread in confined workplaces.

Worksite Health Promotion, September 2008

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The Great American SmokeOut

Did you know that...? The American Cancer Society's
Great American Smokeout challenges people to stop using tobacco and raises awareness of the many effective ways to quit for good. The idea for the Great American Smokeout grew out of Minnesota's first D-Day, or Don't Smoke Day event in 1974. Research shows that smokers are most successful in kicking the habit when they have some means of support, such as nicotine replacement products, counseling, and prescription medicine to lessen cravings. Only about 1 in 7 current smokers tried any of the recommended therapies during his or her last quit attempt (American Cancer Society).
More than 10,000 Georgians die every year from tobacco-related illnesses, which is more than deaths from alcohol, cocaine, heroin, AIDS, murder, suicide, auto accidents and fires combined. Additionally, approximately 1.3 million adults in Georgia smoke cigarettes. As an employer, you are probably aware of the burden of tobacco, not just as a personal problem for many of your employees. As a primary risk factor for many diseases, tobacco use weighs heavily on health care costs and productivity.
During November, two great opportunities exist to provide help to employees about quitting the use of tobacco. Nov. 15 marks the 7th anniversary of the Georgia Tobacco Quit Line, a free resource to Georgians who want to quit using tobacco. The line offers free counseling, screening, support, and referrals to local cessation services. Trained counselors are available to assist callers in creating a personalized quit plan. Follow-up counseling sessions can be scheduled to help callers reach their goals. Since its inception, more than 35,000 Georgians have received help from the Quit Line.
Additionally, the annual Great American Smokeout on Thursday, Nov. 20, serves as an ideal catalyst for quitting tobacco use. On that day, individuals are encouraged to make the first step by quitting tobacco for one day. To help you celebrate the Great

American Smokeout and promote smoking cessation at your worksite, the American Cancer Society has compiled resources and ideas at http://www.cancer.org/docroot/subsit e/greatamericans/smokeout.asp. You can find: The Great American Smokeout
Employer Toolkit Smokeout Countdown Clock Smokefree Policies Improve
Workers' Health It's Never Too Late to Quit Payroll
Stuffer
Here are some things that your company can do to participate in the Great American Smokeout: Send e-mail message with tips to
help employees quit. Organize cessation support groups. Launch a workplace cessation class. Provide incentives to employees
who quit. Include quizzes and other activities
to educate employees on the importance of quitting. Set up stations where employees can trade in their cigarettes for patches, lozenges, and other forms of nicotine replacement therapy. Post flyers telling employees about cessation resources in your area. Encourage employees to take advantage of the Georgia Tobacco Quit Line. The Georgia Tobacco Use Prevention Program has posters and other educational materials about the Quit Line available for your employees at no charge. Please contact Martha Dismer or Kenneth Ray at 404-657-6611.
There is enough time to plan activities for November 20. No matter what you decide to do, take the first step in helping your employees stop smoking. Celebrate the Great American Smokeout.
Contributing writer Kenny Ray is the Program Manager for Georgia's Tobacco Use Prevention Program.

Worksite Health Promotion, September 2008

Health Observances

September

__ _

National Suicide Prevention Week (Sept 7-13) American Association of Suicidology http://www.suicidology.org/

World Heart Day (September 28) World Heart Federation http://www.world-heart-federation.org/

Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month National Ovarian Cancer Coalition http://www.ovarian.org/

Prostate Cancer Awareness Month National Prostate Cancer Coalition http://www.fightprostatecancer.org/

Steptember America on the Move http://www.americaonthemove.org/

Fruit and Veggies More Matters Month Centers for Disease Control and Prevention http://www.fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov/

Healthy Aging Month Educational Television Network, Inc. http://www.healthyaging.net/events.htm

National Cholesterol Education Month National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute http://hp2010.nhlbihin.net/cholmonth/

Whole Grains Month The Whole Grains Council http://www.wholegrainscouncil.org/

October
Drive Safely Work Week Network of Employers for Traffic Safety http://www.dol.gov/odep
Talk About Prescriptions Month National Council on Patient Info & Education http://www.talkaboutrx.org/
Healthy Lung Month American Lung Association http://www.lungusa.org/
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month NBCAM Board of Sponsors http://www.nbcam.org/
National Dental Hygiene Month American Dental Hygienists' Association http://www.adha.org/
National Disability Employment Awareness Month US Department of Labor http://www.dol.gov/odep

November
Great American Smokeout (Nov. 20) American Cancer Society http://www.cancer.org/
American Diabetes Month American Diabetes Association http://www.diabetes.org/
Lung Cancer Awareness Month Lung Cancer Alliance http://www.lungcanceralliance.org/
Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month Pancreatic Cancer Action Network http://www.pancan.org/

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RESOURCE CORNER

OTHER GEORGIA PROGRAMS
Georgia Tobacco Quit Line The Georgia Tobacco Quit Line is a free cessation resource available to all Georgians ages 13 and older. Counselors are available everyday from 8am to midnight everyday to help guide tobacco users through a behavioral counseling module. It is a great way for an employer to promote cessation services for its employees.
The Quit Line is now offering free nicotine replacement therapy for residents in the following five public health districts: Northwest (Rome), North Georgia (Dalton), South (Valdosta), Southeast (Waycross) and Coastal (Savannah/Brunswick).
Call the Quit Line English: 1-877-270-STOP (7867) Spanish: 1-877-2NO-FUME (266-3863) TTY: 1-877-6534 (Hearing Impaired)

RESOURCE MATERIALS
Community Cessation Resource List This referral list has community resources organized by county. You can find cessation classes in your area and refer employees to them. Available at http://health.state.ga.us/pdfs/chronic/toba cco/cessationlist.pdf.
Great American Smokeout The American Cancer Society has compiled a variety of resources on the Great American Smokeout. You can get different materials, including posters and tent cards to promote the event at your worksite and encourage employees to quit tobacco use. Go to http://www.cancer.org/docroot/subsite/gr eatamericans/smokeout.asp.

UPCOMING EVENTS
Benefits Management Forum & Expo Sept. 21-23, 2008, National Harbor, MD http://benefits-forum.com/index.html
6th Annual Women's Health Summit September 24-25, 2008, Atlanta, GA http://dch.georgia.gov/summit
Georgia Safety, Health & Environmental Conference October 7-9, 2008, Savannah, GA http://georgiaconference.org/
Georgia Association of Occupational Health Nurses Fall Conference October 29-31, 2008, Peachtree City, GA http://gaohn.org/aohn08.pdf
Georgia Public Health Association Annual Conference December 3-4, 2008, Savannah, GA http://www.gapha.org/annual-meetingconference/

Georgia's Worksite Health Initiative Georgia DHR Div. of Public Health www.health.state.ga.us/programs/w orksitehealth WorksiteHealth@dhr.state.ga.us

WORKSITE WELLNESS IN THE NEWS
Cities move to teach all employees CPR USA Today, June 3, 2008 Pension liabilities loom as states try to help retirees USA Today, June 11, 2008 Flipping through the options on health records sites USA Today, June 11, 2008 Standing up for workers' rights in a country known for loyalty NY Times, June 11, 2008 Japan, seeking trim waists, measures millions NY Times, June 13, 2008 US court rules against MetLife in benefits case Reuters, June 19, 2008 In a ruling on benefits, justices aid the worker NY Times, June 20, 2008 UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT; Waistlines expand into a workplace issue NY Times, June 22, 2008 Drug chains and benefits managers team on e-prescriptions Reuters, July 1, 2008 Minn. judge rules against Wal-Mart on work breaks USA Today, July 1, 2008 Rising health-care costs hurt small biz BusinessWeek, July 2, 2008 Employers use federal law to deny benefits USA Today, July 5, 2008 Small business is latest focus in health fight NY Times, July 10, 2008 Bereaved Japan mother angered by deadly overwork Reuters, July 18, 2008 A hidden toll on employment: Cut to part time New York Times, July 31, 2008 Study: Health costs seen rising, but ... USA Today, August11, 2008 Health benefits inspire rush to marry, or divorce New York Times, August 12, 2008 Tool Kit: Problems, we've got problems NY Times, August 18, 2008 States push laws to require paid sick days USA Today, August 20, 2008 Extra pounds mean insurance fees for Ala. workers Associated Press, August 22, 2008

Worksite Health Promotion, September 2008

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