Proposal for the creation of a focused study group and forum involving researchers in California concerned with the health impacts of social structure and work (organization of). The following letter was mailed in the Fall of 1997.
To: California Researchers interested in stress at the workplace.
Introduction - Dean Baker and I are writing you to invite you to participate in a focused study group coupled with a public forum series.
Rationale: In recent years there has been substantial progress made in understanding the role that social structure (including social class), work and the organization of work play in promoting health and disease. A great deal of exciting research is being conducted in California by our colleagues. The following is a representative though noninclusive list of noteworthy projects and researchers:
(1) San Francisco Bus Driver Study - a prospective cohort study of SF bus drivers. Investigators include June Fisher, David Ragland and Birgit Greiner
(2) Work and Ambulatory BP study, explorations of the role of 'job strain' - a prospective study of job strain and ambulatory BP among NYC working men. Investigators include Peter Schnall (CA), Paul Landsbergis (NY), Joe Schwartz (NY) and Tom Pickering (NY)
(3) Articles on job stress among working people. Dean Baker and Peter Schnall
(4) The Small Business Workplace Wellness Program - intended to develop and deliver health promotion programs targeted for California small and medium-sized businesses (employing between 2-500 workers). Investigators are Dan Stokols and Shari McMahan
(5) U. of California at Berkeley projects on social class and job stress. Investigators include George A. Kaplan and John Lynch
Unfortunately there is rarely an opportunity to meet and talk with colleagues in a setting which fosters careful thought and cross-fertilization of ideas. Conferences and articles have their known benefits and well understood limitations. A focused study group would allow us to:
1) share our knowledge of the ways in which work and the organization of work impact on the mental and physical well being of working people by examining in detail a number of observational and intervention project conducted at the worksite by ourselves and our colleagues during the past decade, by discussion of the methodological strengths and limitations of current research, by summarizing the lessons learned from these studies about the risk factors for health and illness.
2) develop strategies for workplace interventions to reduce risk factors fornegative health outcomes based on our current knowledge.
3) encourage and support the development within the study group of new proposals for observational and intervention research projects.
4) summarize in published form either electronically (e.g., on the internet) or in the form of peer review articles the knowledge shared (gained) in this process.
5) share our knowledge within the academic communities where we are based through public forums sponsored by our departments and institutions.
Are you interested in participating in this study group? If yes, please contact:
Peter L. Schnall M.D., M.P.H.
Director, Center for Social Epidemiology
1528 6th St. Suite 202
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 319-6595
Email: pschnall@workhealth.org