Structuring successful interventions in employee health programs

Environmental changes to control obesity: a randomized controlled trial in manufacturing companies

PURPOSE

To determine the effects of an environmental intervention on obesity, disease risk factors, and dietary intake in an employee population.

DESIGN

Randomized controlled community trial.

SETTING

Eight manufacturing companies in Kentucky with ∼150 to 350 employees each.

SUBJECTS

Randomly selected employees.

INTERVENTION

Multicomponent environmental intervention that included employee advisory committees, point-of-decision prompts, walking paths, cafeteria/vending changes, and educational materials.

MEASURES

Height; weight; body fat; blood pressure; fasting lipids, glucose and insulin; and dietary intake were assessed prior to and 3, 6, and 12 months after initiation of the intervention.

ANALYSIS

Mixed-model repeat-measure analyses of covariance were used to analyze data collected over the study period. Categorical data were analyzed in contingency tables. A p value of .05 was used to judge statistical significance.

RESULTS

There were no intervention effects for outcome variables, with the exception of lower intake of saturated fat and dietary cholesterol in the intervention group compared to the control group. Over the course of the study, changes in anthropometry and biomeasures were similar in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings indicate that subtle environmental changes alone may not impact employees' weight and health; however, such institutional-level approaches may be essential to support healthy lifestyle habits that are initiated by more intensive efforts. Academic researchers should continue to partner with employers and practitioners to develop, implement, and evaluate innovative health promotion strategies including environmental interventions.

Tailored e-mails in the workplace

Employee wellness programs can potentially contribute to a stronger and healthier work force, with increased dexterity and positive mental health. Programs that keep the work force physically active can reduce heart disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, cerebrovascular accident, and workplace injury. The occupational health nurse provides information to motivate employees to take the first step toward an active lifestyle. The purpose of this article is to present the qualitative evaluation results of an intervention study that tested the effectiveness of tailored e-mail communications designed to increase intentional physical activity in a group of manufacturing workers. The increase in overall physical activity demonstrates the effectiveness of the workplace interventions. Research will now strengthen theoretical concepts, refine messages, and increase both the dose and the power of the interventions.

Employee wellness programs: tips for achieving success

PROBLEM

We're so busy taking care of others that we rarely have time to focus on our own health needs. I've read that many companies have employee wellness programs (EWPs). Do they really work? Is this something we should consider?

SOLUTION

Getting chubby? Smoking too much? Stressed? Health in decline? Dragging yourself to work even if you're too sick to be productive, EWPs can help. Today, up to 90% of employers have at least one activity promoting wellness, ranging from printed material to in-house fitness centers and one-on-one counseling. Implementing a successful wellness program, however, can be challenging, especially in health care, where almost any employee activity competes with direct patient care.