CPW Interventions - Cancer Prevention At Work

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Intervention

Pilot study on Helicobacter pylori (Hp)

Hp screening and eradication as primary prevention of stomach cancer within occupational health surveillance programs.

HP Clinical Study

Helicobacter pylori (HP) emerges as a pivotal player in the realm of cancer burden, its significance underscored by its classification as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. This classification stems from HP's link to non-cardia gastric cancer and its specific association with mucosal-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma of the stomach. The scope of HP's influence extends further, as it's responsible for prevalent diseases like gastritis and peptic ulcers. Beyond the gastronomic realm, Hp-positive subjects are more likely to experience extra-gastric conditions such as syderopenic anaemia and thrombocytopenic purpura, amplifying the urgency for robust prevention measures.

Despite its profound impact, HP remains a subject that has not received systematic investigation within any population. Both in general population and occupational health settings, HP testing is conspicuously absent. This clinical study is the first of its kind to address this critical gap and extends beyond individual workers to encompass their households and leverages the periodic nature of occupational health visits to implement effective follow-up mechanisms, ensuring the efficacy of primary interventions.

Pilot study on Hepatitis C virus (HCV)

HCV screening and treatment as primary prevention of liver cancer within occupational health surveillance programs.

HCV Clinical Study

Liver cancer risk is a serious concern, with Hepatitis B and C infections at its core. In the EU/EAA, 3.9 million people are grappling with chronic HCV infection. While vaccination isn't an option for Hepatitis C, effective treatment is. This makes screening and treatment essential strategies for cancer prevention. However, action plans to diagnose and raise awareness about HBV and HCV infections in the European Region face challenges. By 2017, only six EU nations achieved this target. The COVID-19 pandemic has magnified the importance of timely HCV management. Delayed treatment could lead to 45,000 additional HCC cases and 72,000 more liver-related deaths globally by 2030. Our clinical study aligns with the "Total Worker Health" concept and focuses on unexplored primary prevention programs for HCV-caused liver cancer. We're reaching out to workers from various sectors along with their households.

Pilot study on Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

HPV screening and vaccination as primary prevention of HPV infection and its complications, within occupational health surveillance programs.

HPV Clinical Study

This study targets cervical and other HPV-caused cancers into ongoing occupational health surveillance systems, which offers a unique vantage point for addressing HPV-related cancer prevention directly. Widespread HPV vaccine use dramatically reduces the number of women who will develop cervical cancer, and upcoming vaccines hold even more promise against cervical precancer and cancer. This focus does not compromises secondary prevention via cervical cancer screening—a proven public health strategy for at-risk women. By collaborating with medical experts, this initiative strives to lower cancer incidence linked to HPV infection by raising awareness and encouraging participation in preventive activities, notably HPV vaccination, in middle-income European countries.

Within this project, Worker Health Programs aims to empower occupational health service (OHS) workers to address vaccine hesitancy by enhancing their communication skills. In a personalized approach, the pilot phase tailors strategies within selected companies. This approach will be mainly innovative in countries where test and treatment of Hp and HCV, and HPV vaccination, have not yet been implemented.