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Biomedical subjects

C M Yarborough

Publications and source records attributed to C M Yarborough.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Lymphopoietic cancer and other major causes of death among petrochemical researchers: an update.

This study updates lymphopoietic cancer (LHC) mortality statistics and other major causes of death through 1992 for 13,188 petrochemical researchers employed between 1964 and 1986. Significant deficits of deaths were observed for all causes, all cancers, ischaemic heart disease and all external causes. The subcategory of 'all other LHC' was elevated among males in an exposure class containing scientists and engineers. This finding was statistically significant based on national but not state comparison rates. Poisson regression analyses showed that increasing exposure classes were not associated with LHC, but a relationship was noted for total years worked. A non-significant increase in breast cancer among females was also observed but was concentrated among the lowest exposure class. This study and other similar investigations suggest various subcategories of LHC deaths are marginally elevated among chemical researchers and engineers. Evidence for a work-related LHC hazard for this population, however, has not been identified.

Chemical Industry↗
PubMed1996

Physician-based case-control study of non-melanoma skin cancer in Baytown, Texas.

A physician-based case-control study of non-melanoma skin cancer was conducted to test the hypothesis that employment in the petroleum industry increased the risk of basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), or both (BCC+SCC). Other potential risk factors were also investigated. There were 174 cases of BCC, 59 cases of SCC, 72 cases of both and 229 controls completing a self-administered questionnaire. The most important risk factors common to all skin cancer categories were a family history of skin cancer and time spent outdoors. Employment in the petroleum industry showed a slight association with BCC+SCC, but only in the multivariate model. Further study is needed to evaluate whether this association is causal, or due to chance, bias or confounding.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Baldrige value to occupational health services.

Applying the criteria of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award should help guide the implementation of total quality management, or continuous quality improvement, within occupational and environmental health organizations. Based upon the prior elucidation of necessary parameters to achieve this goal, the Baldrige criteria framework is found to encompass these components in an integrated way and to provide a rigorous method of assessment. Also, its guidelines provide a number of other unique advantages for occupational physician-managers whose aim is quality excellence and future competitiveness.

Awards and Prizes↗
PubMed1994

Strategic quality planning.

Instilling the principles of total quality management (TQM) into organizations is a difficult undertaking, yet many leaders of health care organizations are forging this paradigmatic shift with encouraging results. In this paper, a practical approach is described that has been deployed within an occupational and environmental health setting. The vehicle for this transformation is called the Strategic Quality Plan. Once the purpose was clearly elucidated by the leadership, a basic design of the plan was developed that melded two interrelated goals: achieving strategic business objectives by applying quality principles. The resulting matrix became the basis for detailed flowcharts that show the steps, inputs, decision points, deadlines, and continuous improvement loops for each strategic objective. A deployment plan was developed to aid implementation.

Humans↗
PubMed1993

System for quality management.

Total quality management will provide important benefits for organizations that are involved with the delivery of occupational and environmental health care. These organizations should shift from traditional medical management to the new paradigm. Identification of a set of relevant parameters for this new management system is necessary to implement the quality culture within our professional settings. An exhaustive literature search was undertaken on the topic of total quality management to delineate a framework for consideration by occupational and environmental health managers. Proposed are essential components of a management system for quality excellence which are derived from review of reported approaches among health care organizations and industry, various lists of quality principles and criteria, and classical systems theory.

Delivery of Health Care↗
PubMed1991

An adenomatous polyp case-control study to assess occupational risk factors following a workplace colorectal cancer cluster.

To assess potential etiologic factors among a population of Texas polypropylene workers previously found to have an excess of colorectal cancer (concentrated among mechanical and process workers), the authors conducted an adenomatous polyp case-control study. Cases (n = 24) were workers found to have adenomatous polyps during a company-sponsored colorectal cancer screening program, while controls (n = 72) were workers found to be free of polyps. Exposure assessment utilized a thorough industrial hygiene and toxicologic review of operations in conjunction with work activity interviews of cases and controls to develop chemical-specific exposure scores weighted by time, exposure level, and frequency of exposure. Stratified analyses and logistic regression found that cases tended to have higher exposure to pre-extrusion polymer plus additives (odds ratio (OR) = 2.6, 90% confidence interval (CI) 1.1-6.3) and higher exposure to certain finishing additives (OR = 4.8, 90% CI 1.5-15.3). Analyses by job category or area of the plant did not indicate additional risk factors. The exposures identified in this study are discussed in light of the available toxicologic data on these and related compounds. The need for confirmatory experimental and epidemiologic studies is noted.

Case-Control Studies↗
PubMed1990

Reasons for participation and nonparticipation in a colorectal cancer screening program for a cohort of high risk polypropylene workers.

Little is known about reasons for participation in occupational colorectal cancer screening programs using flexible sigmoidoscopy and barium enema. To assess this issue, telephone interviews were conducted with a sample of participants and nonparticipants in such a program. This study was a follow-up of a previous assessment of factors that affected screening participation among a cohort found to have elevated rates of colorectal cancer. The major finding of this survey was that the absence of symptoms was the major reason for nonparticipation, although both participants and nonparticipants expressed the view that early detection was important and that colorectal cancer could be cured if treated at an early stage. Based on the results of this study and of other surveys, educational messages to workers explaining the asymptomatic development of colorectal cancer should be tried as a way of increasing participation.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Characteristics of participants and nonparticipants in worksite health promotion.

PURPOSE: To identify demographic characteristics associated with worksite health promotion participation and to determine whether employees with high-risk health-related behaviors, as measured by a health risk appraisal, were participating in programs designed to address these behaviors. DESIGN: Descriptive. SETTING: A petrochemical research and development company where employees were offered a health risk appraisal questionnaire, a series of on-site wellness programs, and an on-site fitness center. SUBJECTS: All employees (n = 2290) working continuously from May 1, 1990, through February 28, 1992. MEASURES: Demographic and behavioral risk characteristics of participants and nonparticipants. RESULTS: Participation was 37% (health risk appraisal), 64% (all wellness programs), and 10% (fitness center), with women participating at higher rates than men in all programs. Most programs attracted 10% to 40% of the employees at risk for the particular behavior addressed by the program, although lower penetration (7% to 9%) was observed for the on-site fitness center and blood pressure education programs. With the exception of wellness programs for weight, smoking, and blood pressure, employees at lower behavioral risk tended to be more likely to participate than employees at high risk. CONCLUSIONS: Efforts to increase participation by all company employees, especially among those with high-risk behaviors, would benefit all health promotion programs, particularly the on-site fitness center.

Adult↗