Comprehensive workplace intervention for cancer prevention in China
Lead Research Organisation:
Queen Mary University of London
Department Name: Wolfson Institute of Population Health
Abstract
Globally, cancer is the second leading cause of death and approximately 70% of the cancer deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The death numbers are continuing to increase, which puts a tremendous burden on individuals and the healthcare system in LMICs.
Workplace is an important channel for cancer prevention and control. Several high-income countries, such as the US and the UK, have established workplace health promotion programmes to address behaviour risk factors of cancer. These programmes have been successfully implemented, resulting in a significant improvement not only in behaviour changes of the employees, but also in the work-related outcomes, including economic returns of the employers.
Based on the international experience and local assessment, our research will adapt existing evidence-based strategies and establish a scalable model for cancer prevention that can be widely applied in Chinese workplaces. A comprehensive workplace intervention package, which will address major behaviour risks of cancer for the employees, such as tobacco and alcohol use, unhealthy diet, obesity and lack of physical activity, will be developed, implemented and evaluated through a series of multilevel involvement strategies covering individual programmes, organizational policies and supportive environment and with the support of a tailored smartphone application. In this research, we will test the adaptability of the intervention package across various workplaces in diverse regions with different diets and lifestyles. We will select 15 workplaces with approximately 1500 employees from three cities located in the northern, central and southern provinces of China respectively - mostly in the economically underdeveloped areas. By full engagement of employers and employees in a staggered design with the intervention duration lasting for 1 year, 1.5 years and 2 years respectively, the research aims to achieve the individual behaviour changes in modifiable risk factors of cancer. In the long term, the research outcome will also be demonstrated by the reduction of occurrence of cancer and other major non-communicable diseases, such as stroke and heart attacks of employees, the productivities of the employees and their work performance, as well as the economic benefits of the employers.
The comprehensive workplace intervention will bring enormous benefits to millions of Chinese workplace population and furthermore, will have a great potential to be adapted by many other LMICs with a similar situation of heavy cancer burden. The research will provide evidence and solutions to address the common challenges of these countries, particularly to overcome the barriers in intervention implementation. Ultimately, the research outcome will contribute to the attainment of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 3.4 by reducing a great deal of premature mortality from cancers. The success of this research will lead to significant global health impact in a world with huge health and economic burden caused by cancer.
Workplace is an important channel for cancer prevention and control. Several high-income countries, such as the US and the UK, have established workplace health promotion programmes to address behaviour risk factors of cancer. These programmes have been successfully implemented, resulting in a significant improvement not only in behaviour changes of the employees, but also in the work-related outcomes, including economic returns of the employers.
Based on the international experience and local assessment, our research will adapt existing evidence-based strategies and establish a scalable model for cancer prevention that can be widely applied in Chinese workplaces. A comprehensive workplace intervention package, which will address major behaviour risks of cancer for the employees, such as tobacco and alcohol use, unhealthy diet, obesity and lack of physical activity, will be developed, implemented and evaluated through a series of multilevel involvement strategies covering individual programmes, organizational policies and supportive environment and with the support of a tailored smartphone application. In this research, we will test the adaptability of the intervention package across various workplaces in diverse regions with different diets and lifestyles. We will select 15 workplaces with approximately 1500 employees from three cities located in the northern, central and southern provinces of China respectively - mostly in the economically underdeveloped areas. By full engagement of employers and employees in a staggered design with the intervention duration lasting for 1 year, 1.5 years and 2 years respectively, the research aims to achieve the individual behaviour changes in modifiable risk factors of cancer. In the long term, the research outcome will also be demonstrated by the reduction of occurrence of cancer and other major non-communicable diseases, such as stroke and heart attacks of employees, the productivities of the employees and their work performance, as well as the economic benefits of the employers.
The comprehensive workplace intervention will bring enormous benefits to millions of Chinese workplace population and furthermore, will have a great potential to be adapted by many other LMICs with a similar situation of heavy cancer burden. The research will provide evidence and solutions to address the common challenges of these countries, particularly to overcome the barriers in intervention implementation. Ultimately, the research outcome will contribute to the attainment of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 3.4 by reducing a great deal of premature mortality from cancers. The success of this research will lead to significant global health impact in a world with huge health and economic burden caused by cancer.
Technical Summary
Workplace cancer prevention interventions have been widely conducted in some high-income countries. However, the effective implementation of these evidence-based strategies is lacking in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). It is an urgent task for LMICs to overcome the implementation barriers to reduce the cancer burden.
This research aims to adapt existing strategies of workplace health promotion in the prevention and control of cancer and build a scalable model in China. The research is designed as a stepped wedge cluster randomised controlled trial. We will recruit 15 workplaces with approximately 1500 employees across three low and middle economic cities of China. All the workplaces will be staggered into intervention stage randomly for three steps and will receive a 12-months' intervention and then maintain to the end of the project. The duration of the project is 48 months. A comprehensive workplace intervention package addressing major behaviour risks of cancer for the employees, such as tobacco and alcohol use, unhealthy diet, obesity and lack of physical activity, will be developed and implemented through multilevel involvement strategies covering individual programmes, organizational policies and supportive environment with the support of a mobile application. The primary outcome is the change in modifiable behaviour risk factors of cancer after the intervention. The research will also assess the changes of attendance of employees, the healthcare costs of organizations and the occurrence of cancer of employees in the long term.
The comprehensive workplace intervention for cancer prevention in low- and middle-income regions of China, if proven to be effective and cost-effective, will not only provide evidence and recommendations to the national policies on cancer prevention in China, but also have a great potential to be adapted by other LMICs.
This research aims to adapt existing strategies of workplace health promotion in the prevention and control of cancer and build a scalable model in China. The research is designed as a stepped wedge cluster randomised controlled trial. We will recruit 15 workplaces with approximately 1500 employees across three low and middle economic cities of China. All the workplaces will be staggered into intervention stage randomly for three steps and will receive a 12-months' intervention and then maintain to the end of the project. The duration of the project is 48 months. A comprehensive workplace intervention package addressing major behaviour risks of cancer for the employees, such as tobacco and alcohol use, unhealthy diet, obesity and lack of physical activity, will be developed and implemented through multilevel involvement strategies covering individual programmes, organizational policies and supportive environment with the support of a mobile application. The primary outcome is the change in modifiable behaviour risk factors of cancer after the intervention. The research will also assess the changes of attendance of employees, the healthcare costs of organizations and the occurrence of cancer of employees in the long term.
The comprehensive workplace intervention for cancer prevention in low- and middle-income regions of China, if proven to be effective and cost-effective, will not only provide evidence and recommendations to the national policies on cancer prevention in China, but also have a great potential to be adapted by other LMICs.
Organisations
Publications
Baohua Wang
(2022)
Cancer Mortality and Cause Eliminated Life Expectancy in Key Areas of Four Provinces - China,
in China CDC Weekly
Jing Wu
(2022)
Cancer Prevention and Early Action.
in China CDC Weekly
Q. Wang
(2023)
Changes in knowledge, attitudes and practices of liver cancer prevention in rural areas of central China [Chinese]
in Chin J Health Education
Y. Hu
(2023)
Lifestyle study of Chinese adults with self-reported colorectal cancer. [Chinese]
in Chin J of General Practice
Y. Shi
(2023)
Comparative study on health -related quality of life using healthy days between patients with stomach cancer and the general population. [Chinese]
in Chin J Cancer Prev Treat
| Title | A series of health education illustrated articles on common modifiable cancer risk factors |
| Description | There are more than 200 illustrated articles produced by the research team, which focus on the prevalently common modifiable cancer and non-communicable disease risk factors including smoking, alcohol drinking, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and unhealthy body weight and cancer screening. The articles will be used to deliver health education to the participants. |
| Type Of Art | Creative Writing |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Impact | These health education articles would be delivered through "Healthy Workplace" smartphone app which will be used by the employees to help them increase their knowledge and awareness of cancer prevention. |
| Title | A video film was produced to introduce how to engage with workplaces in WECAN project and broadcasted in GACD 2023 Scientific Meeting |
| Description | In order to disseminate the valuable experience of stakeholder engagement to fellow global health researchers, the WECAN project team produced a video film. This film showcases effective strategies for engaging workplaces within the WECAN project framework. The video was presented at the GACD 2023 Scientific Meeting, offering insights and best practices for stakeholder involvement in similar health initiatives around the world. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Impact | At the GACD 2023 Scientific Meeting held in Singapore, the short file provided an opportunity for researchers from numerous foreign countries to gain valuable insights into practical and effective strategies for engaging study sites and participants. |
| Title | An advertising cartoon video produced to introduce the project |
| Description | A cartoon video was produced to briefly introduce the project, including the background and objectives of the study, the proposed intervention package and the importance of cancer prevention in workplaces. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Impact | The cartoon video will help the leaders of the workplaces, the employees and their families understand the project better and increase their motivation to participate in the project. |
| Title | "Healthy Workplace" smartphone application |
| Description | The "Healthy Workplace" smartphone application will be developed and used to deliver health education on cancer and non-communicable disease prevention, support health risk assessments, help participants monitor health conditions and participate in health-related activities. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The smartphone application is a platform integrating the functions of intervention, evaluation and management. It is user-friendly for employees working in different industries and environments. Employees can access health education, health status assessment, target setting, and upcoming health activities through the smartphone application. |
| Title | Electronic management and evaluation system |
| Description | This system is under development with a number of components and purposes: (1) electronic data capture and management, to collect evaluation data and perform quality control; (2) monitoring, to track and monitor the implementation of intervention;(3) Project management, to delivery intervention and support project process management in the whole research process. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The information system plays a significant role in facilitating the implementation and evaluation of cancer prevention interventions via comprehensive data management. |
| Description | Beihang University |
| Organisation | Beihang University |
| Country | China |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Professor Feng He and Graham MacGregor's research team from QMUL have been providing strong technical support to the study design, operation manual, data management and statistic etc. QMUL team also support project management and oversee the implementation of the programmes. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Beihang University has substantial experience in mHealth innovation and information management systems which has been applied to large-scale RCTs led by The George Institute China. Beihang is also a key partner of the Action on Salt China programme (NIHR 16/136/77), in which Beihang is responsible for the development and maintenance of intervention applications, Electronic Data Collection system (EDCs) and project management systems. In the EdusaltS programme funded by MRC (MR/T024399/1), Beihang University led the development of 1) a mobile phone intervention application on salt-reduction health education used by children and their parents, 2) a monitoring application used by teachers and School Board, 3) EDCs tools, and 4) project management system. In the WECAN study funded by MRC (MR/W023857/1), Beihang University is responsible for the development and maintenance of workplace intervention and project management information system, including 1) an intervention platform with a WeChat mini-program for supporting intervention delivery & a website for project management and monitoring, and 2) an EDCs with a WeChat mini-program for data collection & a website for date checking and quality control. |
| Impact | EduSaltS project (MR/T024399/1): 1) Completed the development of mobile phone intervention application on salt-reduction health education used by children's parents;2) Completed the development of monitoring application used by teachers and School Board; 3) Completed the development of EDCs tools; 4) Completed the development of electronic project management system; 5) Developed an applet of WeChat on salt reduction and health education used by the school canteen staff. WECAN project (MR/W023857/1): 1) Developed an applet of WeChat on cancer prevention and health education used by employees in workplaces. 2) Developed a website evaluation and management of intervention implementation used by the project management team. 2) Designed a WeChat mini-program for data collection and a website for date checking and quality control. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | National Centre for Chronic and Non-communicable Disease Control and Prevention (NCD centre) of China CDC |
| Organisation | Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) |
| Department | National Center for Chronic and Noncommunicable Disease Control and Prevention |
| Country | China |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Professor Feng He has assembled a multidisciplinary team with diverse expertise from QMUL to provide strong support for the study including scientific advice, personnel, financial management support and administrative support. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The NCD center of China CDC is responsible for national NCD surveillance and management. With a platform of 265 NCD management demonstrative areas, the NCD center of China CDC will help disseminate health education materials and tools to a wide audience. In this project, the NCD centre of China CDC will lead the research implementation and policy development in China. |
| Impact | 1) Developed the intervention packages and operation manual for the cancer prevention study 2) Completed the baseline survey and three follow-up surveys by Dec 2024 3) Conduct training for field workers 4) Led implementation of the intervention |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | The George Institute for Global Health (TGI) China |
| Organisation | The George Institute for Global Health China |
| Country | China |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Professor Feng He and Graham MacGregor's research team from Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) have been providing strong technical support to the study design, operation manual, data management and statistics etc. QMUL team also support project management and oversee the implementation of the programmes. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The George Institute for Global Health China (TGI) is a leading research institute focusing on implementation research on chronic diseases and has collaborated with China Health Education Center closely for many years. Nutrition and Lifestyle is one of their key programmes in China with salt reduction among the priorities. Through the implementation of an app-based programme to reinforce and maintain lower salt intake in schoolchildren and their families in China (AppSalt) led by QMUL and TGI China, the team have gained extensive experience in delivering salt reduction health education in school settings. In the scale-up programme (MR/T024399/1), TGI China led research design, part of intervention development and project management, such as organising regular project meetings, communication (newsletter, information and progress sharing etc.) as well as monitoring and evaluation etc. TGI China also played a leading role in coordinating China partners and QMUL to ensure the overall plan, operation and implementation of the projects. TGI China was also the leading partner of the WECAN study (MR/W023857/1) from Jan 2022 to Aug 2024. In this study, TGI China led the development of the research design including intervention, evaluation, data analysis and promotion strategies. |
| Impact | EduSaltS project (MR/T024399/1): 1) Completed the development of research protocol, operation manual etc. 2) Supported the development of mobile phone application on salt-reduction education used by children's parents and intervention monitoring used by teachers and School Board; 3) Supported the development of Electronic Data Collection system (EDCs) and project management platform. 4) Prepared materials for IRB/Human Genetic Resources Approval, pilot study, local staff training etc.; 5) Carried out project management, including finance management, regular project meetings, coordination and communication between national and international partners etc. WECAN project (MR/W023857/1): 1) Supported the development of an applet of WeChat on cancer prevention and health education used by employees in workplaces. 2) Supported the development of a website evaluation and management of intervention implementation used by the project management team. 3) Supported the design of a WeChat mini-program for data collection and a website for date checking and quality control. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Title | Comprehensive intervention for cancer prevention in workplaces |
| Description | The intervention will be delivered through a well-designed smartphone app "Healthy Workplace". The "Healthy Workplace" app is a platform integrating the functions of intervention, evaluation and project management. Employees (participants) will receive interventions and can communicate with peers and share experiences through the participant end of the App; workplace leaders and project team members can view relevant activities and manage the project through the staff end of the App. The intervention activities will focus on the prevalently common modifiable cancer risk factors including smoking, alcohol consumption, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and body mass index, though the "health education" module will cover as many cancer risk factors as possible. In the first year of the project, we have been working on the development of the information platform, including the "Healthy workplace" smartphone application. More than 200 health education image text were produced and distributed through "WECAN" App, and a series of posters and PPTs were created and provided for enterprises. |
| Type | Preventative Intervention - Behavioural risk modification |
| Current Stage Of Development | Refinement. Non-clinical |
| Year Development Stage Completed | 2023 |
| Development Status | Under active development/distribution |
| Clinical Trial? | Yes |
| UKCRN/ISCTN Identifier | ChiCTR2200058680 |
| Impact | The "healthy Workplace" smartphone app will help implement well-designed interventions for each individual based on his/her specific risk factors and behaviour change intention. Meanwhile, it will also provide recommendations on cancer screening. The posters and PPTs on the topic of health lifestyle are beneficial for conducting employees' health education activities and creating healthy working environment. |
| Title | A smartphone application on cancer and non-communicable disease prevention used by employees in workplaces |
| Description | The "Healthy Workplace" smartphone app focuses on cancer prevention via health education, which is a key component of the intervention package in the WECAN project. Employees in the 15 project workplaces can learn health knowledge, evaluate individual health status, and participate in suitable online health promotion activities, such as the 7-days fruit challenge, and alcohol control challenge. |
| Type Of Technology | Webtool/Application |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Impact | The "Healthy Workplace" app will help employees to evaluate their health conditions periodically and help them establish healthy lifestyles. The app will provide health education lessons, articles, audio, and videos on the prevalently common modifiable cancer risk factors including smoking, alcohol drinking, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and unhealthy body weight. Employees will be able to access and participate in health promotion activities with their colleagues together. Online health education and activities will also be more flexible and feasible compared with those carried out in the traditional way. The app will help deliver the recommended interventions to each individual based on his/her specific risk factors and behaviour change intention. Meanwhile, it will also provide recommendations on cancer screening. |
| Title | A web of WeChat on evaluation and management of intervention implementation used by project management team |
| Description | The project management staff from the national project office, local project teams and workplaces can access the web and check the real-time progress and quality of intervention implementation. |
| Type Of Technology | Webtool/Application |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Impact | The web will be an important tool to ensure the progress of intervention implementation and improve good quality. |
| Description | A filed research carried out in 5 workplaces in Xiangtan City, China |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | In Aug 2022, a group of research team members from China CDC and TGI China carried out field research in 5 workplaces in Xiangtan City, Hunan Province, China. The team had a group meeting with the leaders of the 5 workplaces to briefly introduce the project and gained their advice about the implementation of the study, followed by site visits and group interviews with other key personnel of the workplaces to understand the current situation of the environment, health-related policies, relevant employee benefits programmes in the workplaces. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | A presentation on prevention of risk factors for cancer at the Cancer Prevention and Control Forum, Baohua Wang |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Co-I Prof. Baohua Wang, from the China Center for Disease Control and Prevention, attended the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) - Cancer Prevention and Control Forum in Beijing in Aug 2022. CIFTIS is the leading and largest comprehensive fair for trade and services in China and across the world and it is one of the major exhibitions, that constitute a comprehensive system to enhance China's cooperation with an openness towards the rest of the world. Among the nine themes highlighted in the event, healthcare is one of the most important topics. The Cancer Prevention and Control Forum was held in a hybrid format and experts from China, the United States and Japan joined the event. The theme of the Forum is "build a full life cycle system for cancer prevention and treatment". National and international experts discussed the global cancer burden and the strategies for cancer prevention and control. Professor Baohua Wang gave a presentation on the Prevention and Control of the Risk Factors for Cancer. More than 100,000 people watched the live broadcast of the forum online. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | http://life.china.com.cn/web/bgt/detail2_2022_10/24/3657026.html |
| Description | An online workshop to discuss proposal and project plan |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | An online workshop was held to discuss the protocol and project plan. National and local implementation partners and representatives of study sites and 15 workplaces from 3 cities were invited to join the workshop to get their comments and feedback on the project plan and obtain their support for the delivery of the study. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Conduct baseline evaluation training for three municipal CDCs and 15 workplaces. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | At the end of April 2023, TGI China and CCDC collaborated to deliver comprehensive training sessions to investigators from the Xiangtan, Nanchong, and Wuhai CDCs, as well as fifteen selected workplaces. This training aimed to equip participants with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively conduct baseline surveys. As a result of these efforts, a total of 841 employees successfully completed baseline surveys across the three cities. These surveys served as crucial initial data points for assessing the baseline health status and needs of the participants. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Conducted the training for follow-up surveys |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Local investigators from the CDCs at the three study sites organized training sessions with the assistance of the research team in April and October 2024. The training focused on properly conducting follow-up evaluations to ensure accurate data collection. It also provided guidance on data verification and timely monitoring to maintain adherence to the protocol and ensure high-quality data collection during the evaluation surveys. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Developed project fact sheet |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | The project fact sheet was developed to introduce the key partners, background, objectives, methodology and potential impacts of the project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://cdn.georgeinstitute.org/sites/default/files/workplace-cancer-j1711021-chn_1.pdf |
| Description | Development of manual for intervention implementation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | In early 2024, Wuhai CDC produced a manual for implementing cancer prevention interventions, which has since been widely used by the local investigators in study sites in Nanchong and Xiangtan City. The manual includes a brief introduction and covers 7 health topics, offering effective support for the implementation of the project intervention. It also provides participants in the intervention group with easy access to information about the project and health knowledge, playing a positive role in promoting employee health. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Gave a presentation at the International Symposium on Healthy Ageing |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | On December 20, 2024, the International Symposium on Healthy Ageing was held in Beijing. Brought together over 50 experts from China, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore to address the challenges of ageing populations, this event was supported by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Health Commission, and the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Co-PI, Wu Jing, the director of the NCNCD of CDC, chaired the event. The symposium featured 10 keynote speeches across three main topics: the situation and policy analysis, future technology support, and challenges and opportunities in healthy ageing. In her keynote speech titled "Challenges and Actions for Healthy Ageing in China," Professor Wu emphasized the importance of regional cooperation and technological innovation in tackling ageing-related health issues. The conference concluded with the drafting of a consensus document outlining plans for an international cooperation network on healthy ageing. Wu and her team at the CDC pledged to continue collaborating with global experts to advance regional efforts in promoting healthy ageing. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.chinacdc.cn/zxyw/202501/t20250110_303802.html |
| Description | Gave a talk at the 2024 General Health Management Conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | On November 3, the 2024 General Health Management Conference was held in Beijing. The event was jointly organized by the General Technology Group and the China Health Management Association, under the guidance of the Chinese Medical Association, the Chinese Preventive Medicine Association, and the Chinese Medical Doctor Association. With the theme "Smart Health for China, Quality Innovation for a Better Future," the conference brought together representatives from governmental departments, research institutions, hospitals, and industries to discuss health management and explore innovative solutions. The conference featured seven parallel forums, covering key topics including occupational health management, and multi-sector elderly health management. Experts and representatives from the industry engaged in in-depth discussions on health management innovations and shared cutting-edge technological achievements and practical experiences. Several project team members attended the event. Co-PI, Professor Jing Wu, the director of the National Center for Chronic and Non-communicable Disease Control and Prevention, gave a talk on the topic of "Chronic Disease Management for Workplace Employees." The talk highlighted the importance of leveraging the workplaces' organizational, systematic, and institutional strengths to develop scalable and replicable health management models. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.gt.cn/xwzx/gdwdt/202411/t20241118_53510.html |
| Description | Hold the "Symposium on Prevention and Intervention of Key Diseases in Old Age" in Beijing |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | On June 11, 2024, the partner of the WECAN project, the National Center for Chronic and Non-communicable Disease Control and Prevention (NCNCD) of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) held the "Symposium on Prevention and Intervention of Key Diseases in Old Age" in Beijing. This hybrid event focused on two key initiatives: the prevention and intervention of major diseases in the elderly (2024) and the development and demonstration of evaluation standards for elderly mental health (2024). Co-PI Jing Wu, Director of the NCNCD, gave a speech emphasizing the importance of these initiatives. She outlined NCNCD's efforts to establish a comprehensive "prevention-screening-diagnosis-treatment-rehabilitation" model for managing major diseases in the elderly and NCNCD's commitment to supporting national strategies for healthy ageing and the broader Healthy China initiative. This event brought together over 20 experts from universities, research institutions, hospitals, and disease control agencies. Participants were engaged in extensive discussions and provided valuable insights on the scientific and practical feasibility of the proposed initiatives. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://ncncd.chinacdc.cn/zxdt/202406/t20240617_283692.htm |
| Description | Hold the 2025 Annual Project Meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | On February 21, 2025, the WECAN Project annual meeting was successfully held in Xiangtan, Hunan Province. The event brought together leaders and experts from the WECAN project, including the National Center for Chronic and Non-communicable Disease Control and Prevention of China, Beijing Physical Examination Center, and Queen Mary University of London, as well as professionals from the disease control centres of three project cities (Xiangtan, Hunan; Nanchong, Sichuan; and Wuhai, Inner Mongolia) and 15 workplace project leaders, totaling over 40 people. Government officials, e.g., Xiaojun Li, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Hunan Provincial CDC; Ruoyang Chen, Vice Mayor of Xiangtan City; and Jinhui Ma, Director of the Xiangtan City Health Commission were also present. Both Xiaojun Li and Ruoyang Chen gave opening remarks, emphasizing the significance of the project and expressed their strong support for its implementation in Xiangtan City. During the meeting, The project team shared updates on project progress and work experiences. Leaders and experts listened to challenges and difficulties encountered during the interventions and provided suggestions and solutions for issues such as low employee participation and registration rates in the third batch of workplaces, technical improvements of the WECAN mini-program, and the inclusion of more comprehensive content in the health knowledge section in the mini-program. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://roll.sohu.com/a/863636517_121956423 |
| Description | Hold the annual meeting the steering committee meeting in April 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | On April 23, 2024, the 2024 annual project meeting and Steering Committee meeting of the WECAN project were held in Langzhong City, Sichuan Province. The event brought together representatives from public health organizations, universities, and government bodies. The meeting focused on progress made, lessons learned, and the implementation plan for the upcoming year. Officials from Langzhong and Nanchong, along with other regional health leaders, discussed the importance of creating healthy work environments and the effective implementation of health interventions to improve employee well-being and prevent cancer. The discussions also explored strategies for cancer prevention and promoting public health in the workplace, emphasizing collaborative efforts between governments, workplaces, and individuals. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/iSHh0pV1nLgoSKDMNAMhzQ |
| Description | Organise WECAN 2023 Steering Committee Meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Following the launch meeting, the first steering committee meeting of the WECAN project was held. During this meeting, the chairman and members of the steering committee were appointed. They offered valuable insights and recommendations regarding the project's design, work plan and implementation strategy. The committee members expressed their expectations that the WECAN project would establish and promote a comprehensive model for cancer prevention and health promotion, tailored to various workplaces across China. Furthermore, they anticipated that the project would provide practical and feasible scientific evidence and implementation strategies to promote the health of occupational populations. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Organise WECAN Project Launch Meeting in March, 2023 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | On March 16, 2023, the Chronic Disease Center of China CDC, TGI China, QMUL, and Beihang University jointly launched the Workplace Health Promotion Project (WECAN) in Beijing. More than 50 experts and scholars from Peking University and Peking Union Medical College, alongside representatives from enterprises like General Electric. Project leaders from three provincial and municipal CDCs, as well as workplace representatives, also attended the event. During the meeting, researchers and experts engaged in extensive discussions with project leaders and workplace representatives on various topics, including implementation plans, intervention activities, and evaluation plans across the three provinces. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Organise first follow-up survey training in Oct. 2023 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | In October 2023, the project team conducted online training sessions for investigators from three cities, with a focus on the procedures for the first follow-up. By December, all follow-up evaluation activities had been successfully completed. To maintain the accuracy of the investigation, data verification and online monitoring were implemented to ensure adherence to the protocol and high-quality data collection. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Organise intervention implementation training to staff of CDCs and 5 workplaces in 3 cities, Nov. 2023 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Leaders and representatives from workplaces and CDCs had been engaged in developing the framework for the Workplace Health Promotion Plan. Additionally, the first five workplaces selected to implement interventions have tailored their "Workplace Health Promotion (WECAN) Project Enterprise Activity Plans" based on this framework. In November 2023, the project team conducted training sessions on intervention mobilization and implementation. Subsequently, the five workplaces officially launched their intervention and health promotion initiatives among their employees. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Organise training course for cancer prevention and control professionals |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The training was organised on June 6-7 in Anyang City, Henan Province. The main topics of training included the current situation of the cancer epidemic, intervention and prevention strategies, cancer fieldwork programs and skills, and more than 90 professionals from CDC in four provinces participated in the training. The training course was held once a year to improve knowledge and skills in cancer prevention and control. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Organize the 2024 China Chronic Disease Prevention and Control Conference in Beijing |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The 2024 China Chronic Disease Prevention and Control Conference was held in Beijing on 19-20 October 2024, bringing together leading experts, policymakers, and healthcare professionals to address the growing challenges of chronic diseases in China. The event, guided by the National Health Commission's Medical Emergency Department and co-organized by the Chinese Preventive Medicine Association, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and other leading health institutions, focused on advancing strategies for early intervention and comprehensive prevention of Chronic Disease. Participants were engaged in discussions on the latest scientific research, practical experiences, and policy developments in chronic disease management. Co-PI, Jing WU, delivered a keynote speech highlighting innovative approaches to tackling chronic diseases through technology and community-based interventions. Wu emphasized the importance of integrating digital health solutions and artificial intelligence (AI) into chronic disease management, particularly in aging populations. The conference also launched the "Hundred Cities, Thousand Districts, Ten Thousand Homes" initiative, a nationwide campaign promoting weight management as a key strategy in chronic disease prevention. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://js.ifeng.com/c/8e6Ptk2nXa7 |
| Description | Participate in China Occupational Chronic Disease Health Management Seminar in June 2023. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | In June 2023, Co-Principal Investigators Director Wu and Professor Zhang were invited to participate in the China Occupational Chronic Disease Health Management Seminar. During the seminar, they had the opportunity to deliver a presentation to introduce the project's design and implementation plan. The presentation not only outlined the overarching objectives and methodologies of the project but also discussed its potential impact and significance on occupational health management and cancer prevention. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Poster presentation at "The Lancet Summit: Cancer Control in China" |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The Lancet Summit: Cancer Control in China was held in Shanghai from 21-23, February 2025. Co-organized by The Lancet Oncology and four other Lancet journals, the conference brought together around 40 expert speakers to address major cancer-related challenges in China. The summit gathered over 40 leading experts worldwide, addressing major cancers such as lung cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, and breast cancer. Additionally, a special workshop was held to discuss the significance of clinical trial design and evaluation. The WECAN research team presented a poster titled "Risk Factors of Cancer Among the Working Population in China: Baseline Findings of the WECAN Project". The poster presented the relationship between occupational environment, lifestyle, and cancer incidence, and it provided valuable insights for future cancer prevention and intervention strategies. The audience showed great interest in the study, engaging in in-depth discussions about its methodology and clinical implications. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | Presentation on EduSaltS project and WECAN project in 2023 GACD online workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | In November 2023, Dr. Yuan Li and Haijun Guo participated in the GACD 2023 Research Programme workshop. During this event, they had the opportunity to showcase the progress, outputs, achievements, and valuable experiences gained through the implementation of the EduSaltS and WECAN projects. This engagement not only highlighted the significance of the projects but also fostered the exchange of ideas among researchers from diverse backgrounds and countries. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Presentation on EduSaltS project in 2023 GACD Annual Scientific Meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Professor Zhang Puhong, Dr. Bohua Wang, and Project Manager Rong Luo attended the GACD 2023 Scientific Meeting in November 2023 in Singapore. This in-person event brought together over 120 participants for three days of insightful talks, dynamic discussions and opportunities for networking. They presented the project's progress, outputs, achievements, and experiences through both posters and oral presentations. Additionally, they contributed short films to the film festival held during the meeting, aiming to facilitate knowledge sharing and disseminate the project's findings. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.gacd.org/perch/resources/asm-2023-programme-full-4.pdf |
| Description | Presentation on the 16th China Health Service Conference and the 14th National Health Management Academic Conference. --Dr. Baohua Wang |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The conference was held in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province on November 17-19, 2023. Approximately 400 clinicians and students participated in the academic conference to discuss the transition from physical examination to health management. Dr. Wang Baohua gave an introduction and engaged in the discussion on how to carry out high-quality health management and intervention guidance for workplaces and occupational populations. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Presentation on the study design of WECAN project at the GACD Research Programme Workshop, Dr. Yuan Li |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Dr. Yuan Li presented the study design and progress of the WECAN project at the GACD Research Programme Workshop in Nov 2022. Researchers and practitioners from the GACD Global Research Network attended the workshop to facilitate knowledge sharing. It was a good opportunity to understand the trends and commonalities across the GACD Research Network and meet researchers from different countries for future collaboration. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.gacd.org/perch/resources/gacd-research-programme-workshop-2022-agenda-v3.pdf |
| Description | Presented at the 15th National Academic Conference on Health Management in Nov 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | From November 22 to 24, 2024, several research team members participated in the 15th National Academic Conference on Health Management, organized by the Chinese Medical Association. This conference served as a platform for experts and scholars in China's health management sector to exchange and showcase the latest theoretical and practical innovations, and to discuss recent developments in health management research. During the conference, Prof Puhong Zhang delivered an oral presentation and engaged with fellow professionals to share insights on improving population health management through the promotion of healthy lifestyles. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.163.com/dy/article/JJHNRJST05561ARD.html |
| Description | Prof Feng He gave a lecture at the Southeast Asia Salt Action Leadership Teamwork Workshop 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | On 21 October 2024, the SEASALT (Southeast Asia Salt Action Leadership Teamwork) Workshop 2024 was jointly organized by the Malaysian Society for World Action on Salt, Sugar and Health (MyWASSH), the Malaysian Hypertension Society (PERSATUAN HIPERTENSI MALAYSIA), Resolve to Save Lives, the University of Malaya, Sunway University, and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). The workshop gathered approximately 50 key stakeholders from across Southeast Asia, including ministry officials, professional societies, NGOs, dietitians, nutritionists, and researchers. Its primary aim was to share strategies and policies on salt reduction, identify facilitators and barriers to their implementation, and develop recommendations for a model policy to support Southeast Asian countries in reducing salt intake and lowering blood pressure levels. Prof Feng He was invited to deliver a lecture on salt reduction about the experiences from the UK and China. The event fostered regional collaboration among health professionals and policymakers, emphasizing joint efforts to implement effective salt reduction strategies. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Prof Zhang gave a presentation at 2024 China Hypertension Conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | On October 26-27, 2024, Prof Puhong Zhang, Co-PI of the project, hosted an academic session on "Progress and Implementation Strategies of Sodium Reduction and Potassium Supplementation" at the 2024 China Hypertension Conference and the 26th International Symposium on Hypertension and Related Diseases. He presented the report "Deepening Salt Reduction Actions: The Need for More Targeted Strategies." Prof Zhang emphasized the urgent need for effective salt reduction strategies in China. His report aligned with the Healthy China 2030 goal of reducing salt consumption by 20% by 2030. The talk provided evidence-based recommendations to policymakers, supporting initiatives to reform food industry regulations and public health campaigns. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Regular publication of health education articles in WeChat platform |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The project team invited experts to prepare health education and promotion articles focused on popular health topics. These articles are published weekly on the WeChat mini-program and serve as intervention materials for cancer prevention among participants in the intervention group. In addition, these articles are also shared through the official WeChat account of the WECAN project to increase public awareness of cancer prevention. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024,2025 |
| URL | https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/j0m64nFo08DV9P10HKlaFQ |
| Description | Site visit to project cities and workplaces |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | To ensure the quality of project implementation and data collected, experts from CCDC, TGI China, and QMUL conducted on-site supervision of the baseline survey in Wuhai and Nanchong in April and May 2023, respectively. In addition, to enhance the design of the intervention plan and ensure its practicality and feasibility, the project team visited several workplaces in Xiangtan City and and engaged in discussions with the leaders and workers of the workplaces. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |