Organizing workplace health literacy to improve betel quid cession and oral mucosa screening

Abstract

Betel quid (BQ) chewing, tobacco smoking and alcohol drinking are risk factors of oral cancer, thus, BQ chewing is the main cause in Taiwan. Moreover, male oral cancer incidence rate is 42.74/10^6 which topped the fourth leading causes of cancers. Most studies indicated that construction employees have higher prevalence in betel quid (BQ) chewing, tobacco smoking and alcohol drinking than other. Moreover, these workers had lower opportunities and capabilities to access, understand, process and use health information and considered as low health literacy disadvantaged groups. Individuals' health behaviors have complex interaction with workplaces, thus, an integrated approach for workplace health literate could empower individuals, managers, and public health providers to deliver tailored health information and services. Taiwan Health Promotion Administration aims to develop a health literacy workplace to provide a tailored health information and services within construction. This study was a participatory action research. A stakeholder analysis was conducted to establish the connections and relationships for a collaborative approach to plan and implement health programs in health sectors. This step aims to recruitment of construction industry, local governments, and health sectors. Taichung and Yilan have the public health planning capacity and could horizontal coordination within their governments. Furthermore, two counties were the first one which initiated collaboration with the Construction Bureau and the Public Health Bureau to establish the strategies for health literacy workplaces. Through these collaborations partnership, public health services based on a tailed program included BQ free logo, proving oral cancer screening service in workplace, conducting quitting betel quid contests, encouraging supervisor join betel quid cessation workplace policy. A media announcement strategy is to encourage other construction industries which could lead the potential ally. In conclusion, an intersectoral cooperation health literacy approach which tailored local government could provide health services to the health risk groups.