Shift work and cancer screening: do females who work alternative shifts undergo recommended cancer screening?
BACKGROUND
Alternative shift work is classified as a probable human carcinogen. Certain cancer screening tests reduce cancer mortality.


METHODS
The 2010 National Health Interview Survey was used to examine associations between adherence to breast, cervical, and colon cancer screening recommendations and alternative shift work among female workers.


RESULTS
Workers on alternative shifts, compared to workers on daytime shifts, were more likely to be non-adherent to screening recommendations for breast (34% vs. 23%) and colorectal (55% vs. 48%) cancer (P < 0.05). Workers on alternative shifts in two industries ("Manufacturing" and "Accommodation/Food Services") and three occupations ("Food Preparation/Serving," "Personal Care Services," and "Production") were more likely to be non-adherent to screening recommendations for at least two cancers (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The Affordable Care Act eliminates out-of-pocket screening expenses for these three cancers. Greater efforts are needed to promote this benefit, particularly among workers with demonstrated non-adherence. Am. J. Ind. Med. 57:265-275, 2014. Published 2013. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations and Field Studies, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Rebecca J
RJ
Tsai
Sara E
SE
Luckhaupt
Marie Haring
MH
Sweeney
Geoffrey M
GM
Calvert
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005522:Food Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D016272:Occupational Health; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance; D055815:Young Adult
breast cancer; cancer screening recommendations; cervical cancer; colorectal cancer; industry; occupation; shift work