Tools for Health: the Efficacy of a Tailored Intervention Targeted for Construction Laborers

Objectives: Novel approaches to worksite health promotion are needed for high-risk workers who change job sites frequently, and thus may have limited access to worksite health promotion efforts. The objective of this study was to test a behavioral intervention among construction laborers.

Methods: Using a randomized-controlled design, we tested the efficacy of a tailored telephone-delivered and mailed intervention to promote smoking cessation and increased fruit and vegetable consumption (n = 582).

Results: At baseline, 40% of control group participants and 45% of intervention group participants reported using any tobacco in the last seven days. At final, 8% of baseline cigarette smokers in the control group had quit, compared to 19% in the intervention group (p = 0.03). In both groups, the mean consumption of fruits and vegetables at baseline was over five servings per day. At final, the intervention group had increased consumption by approximately one and one-half servings, compared to a slight decrease in consumption in the control group (p < 0.001).

Conclusions: A tailored intervention can be efficacious in promoting tobacco use cessation and increased fruit and vegetable consumption among construction laborers, a high-risk, mobile workforce.