To critically evaluate an epidemiological approach to a particular problem in public health practice
Length: 2,000 ± 200 words
Purpose: To critically evaluate an epidemiological approach to a particular problem in public health practice
You are to assume the role of a Workplace Health Advisor working within a large corporate organisation that is considering the introduction of a drug and alcohol screening program for all employees. The organisation considering implementing Drug and Alcohol screening employs around 3000 staff, with roles including warehouse workers, delivery drivers, administration staff, and executives. All employees are based within 2 buildings located a short walk away and are based in the inner city (easily accessible by public transport). There are car parking facilities available nearby at discounted rates to employees. Increasingly, office workers are working from home/off site on random days throughout the week. The CEO is concerned about Workplace Health and Safety issues with a similar organisation recently paying compensation to an injured worker who tested positive to cannabis use after a forklift incident. (See: Fantastic Furniture v B [2016] TASWRCT 11 (6 April 2016)) The CEO has located a company that offers workplace drug and alcohol screening on site. The company claims that the screening results are 95% accurate. The CEO is considering using this organisation to screen all employees once a month. She approaches you to discuss the benefits and downsides of drug and alcohol screening on all employees in general, and specifically using the test that this company is advertising.
As the Workplace Health Advisor, you are to write a report that critically evaluates drug and alcohol screening programs generally, and the likely implications of such a program in this specific workplace. Your report is to address the following:
1) What would you advise the CEO about the benefits and downsides to screening all employees in this organisation each month? You should include in your advice the issues with screening programmes in general, as well as the specifics of this screening programme. (Identify at least 3 benefits and 3 downsides and discuss) (15 marks)
2) The CEO is excited by this company’s test accuracy. What would you say to the CEO regarding this companies claim to be 95% accurate? (5 marks)
3) You decide to do some further investigation into drug and alcohol screening tests and find a company whose test has shown to be quite reliable, with a 95% sensitivity, and 86% specificity.
a. How would you explain these results to the CEO? (5 marks)
b. Based on other workplace screening programs, you anticipate a 0.001% prevalence of drug and/or alcohol in your workplace. Based on these values, calculate the positive and negative predictive values if you were to use this test in your workplace. Provide an interpretation of these values in a language that would be appropriate to report back to the CEO. (Include 2X2 table, 5 marks)
c. Would you recommend the use of this test as a monthly screening test in your workplace? Why/Why not? (5 marks)
Presentation (5 marks):
A well-structured and fully referenced report.
Include a title page, table of contents and page numbering.
11- or 12-point font, double line spacing.
