The usefulness of an Online Simplified Screening Questionnaire (SSQ) in identifying work-related cancers

To obtain a history of occupational exposure in the workplace, the questionnaire is one of the main sources of information. The aim of this study was to develop an online questionnaire using the REDCap data management platform based on the Work-Related Cancer Surveillance Guidelines, reported by the Brazilian National Cancer Institute. Several issues were taken into consideration for its routine application. It should be simple, easy, capable of being applied in a short time and used in the clinical setting of collecting information on the occupational history of the cancer patient. Consequently, this could enable the compulsory notification of work-related cancer. The questionnaire was developed based on questions about the use of and exposure to carcinogenic factors at work and due to smoking. An entirely electronic version of the cancer patient interview was performed using tablets. The online questionnaire was applied at the Barretos Cancer Hospital, Barretos, to newly diagnosed patients from July 2016 to 2018. A total of 1063 patients were included, and 550 indicated positively when asked “Do you work, or have you worked with this substance and/or in this function?/job?” Of these potentially notified patients, 38 subsequently had compulsorily reported work-related cancer. Another important result of this study was the creation and development of a website. In conclusion, we developed an online tool that could facilitate hospital routines, contributing to generating data for the compulsory notification of work-related cancer and triggering investigations and surveillance actions in Brazil.This research was funded by Barretos Cancer Hospital and the Public Ministry of Labor Campinas (Research, Prevention and Education of Occupational Cancer). Vazquez, F.L. is supported by the Public Ministry of Labor Campinas (Research, Prevention, and Education of Occupational Cancer) in Campinas, Brazil

Evaluation of Exposure to Toluene and Xylene in Gasoline Station Workers

The main volatile organic compounds found at gasoline stations are benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene isomers (BTEX). They cause several harmful effects on human health. Regulatory Norm 7 (1978) provides that, in Brazil, biological monitoring of toluene and xylene is carried out by measuring the urinary metabolites hippuric acid (HA) and methylhippuric acid (MHA), respectively. The objective of this study was to assess the exposure to toluene and xylene and to identify related signs and symptoms in gasoline station workers. A cross-sectional epidemiological study was conducted with workers occupationally exposed to fuels. These gasoline station workers were divided into two groups: 94 workers exposed mainly by inhalation (convenience store workers (CSWs)) and 181 workers exposed by inhalation and dermal route (filling station attendants (FSAs)). A comparison group was formed by 119 workers not occupationally exposed to fuels (office workers (OWs)). Workers exposed to fuels had higher average levels of these exposure biomarkers (HA and MHA), which were also higher in convenience store workers than in filling station attendants. In addition, individuals exposed to the solvents present in gasoline had altered mood/depression, cramps, dizziness, drowsiness, headaches, irritability/nervousness, weakness, weight loss, and other symptoms more frequently and had higher urinary levels of HA and MHA compared to the comparison group. Gasoline station workers showed high levels of HA and MHA, reflecting high occupational exposure to the solvents toluene and xylene present in gasoline, demonstrating that changes in the current legislation and in the work environment are necessary to ensure better health protection for these workers

Ensaio clínico randomizado: efetividade da abordagem cognitivo-comportamental e uso de adesivos transdérmicos de reposição de nicotina, na cessação de fumar, em adultos residentes no Município do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

Ensaio clínico randomizado conduzido para avaliar efetividades dos métodos de abordagem cognitivo-comportamental e terapia de reposição de nicotina com adesivos para cessação de fumar. Participaram 1.199 voluntários, adultos, do Município do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, alocados aleatoriamente em dez grupos: aconselhamento breve (GB) intensivo de 1 ou 2 sessões (G1-G2) e de 3 ou 4 sessões (G3-G4), com/sem terapia de reposição de nicotina. Proporções de abstinência foram estimadas durante os 12 meses. Essas proporções nos grupos sem adesivo foram 20% (GB), 17% (G1-G2) e 23% (G3-G4). Nos grupos com adesivo foram aproximadamente 30% (GBA), 34% (G1A-G2A) e 33% (G3A-G4A). Após ajuste múltiplo, as razões de proporção de abstinência parecem seguir padrão consistente com efeito "dose-resposta": comparadas com GB foram 0,85 (G1-G2); 1,13 (G3-G4); 1,51 (GBA); 1,66 (G1A-G2A) e 1,75 (G3A-G4A) (p < 0,05). Os resultados sugerem que acrescer terapia de reposição de nicotina aumenta a proporção de abstinência na cessação. Padrões tipo "dose-resposta" encontrados nas razões de proporção de abstinência sugerem que a abordagem cognitivo-comportamental pode ser uma opção razoável no tratamento do fumante