Formative and effectiveness evaluation of a worksite program promoting healthy alcohol consumption

Area of Science:

• Occupational health and safety
• Behavioral science
• Public health interventions

Background:

• Working individuals often face challenges in maintaining healthy and socially responsible alcohol consumption patterns.
• Worksite health promotion programs offer a unique setting to address alcohol-related behaviors among employees.
• Evaluating program effectiveness requires rigorous methodology, including formative and effectiveness phases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a formative and effectiveness evaluation of a worksite alcohol program.
• To assess the program's ability to promote healthy and socially responsible alcohol consumption among working drinkers.
• To measure changes in alcohol knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy, and behavior.

Main Methods:

• A baseline survey identified employee needs and interests (n=387).
• Formative evaluation involved focus groups to refine program accessibility, interest, and potential effectiveness.
• An effectiveness evaluation used a randomized pre-post design with three arms: alcohol program, placebo (nutrition), and no program (n=268).

Main Results:

• The program was effective in promoting socially responsible attitudes and reducing self-reported weekly alcohol consumption.
• Despite initial low interest, the intervention demonstrated positive outcomes.
• Placebo effects were observed, and participant representativeness was limited.

Conclusions:

• Worksite alcohol health promotion programs can be effective in influencing employee behavior.
• The promotion of socially responsible attitudes is a key outcome of such interventions.
• Workplace interventions represent a viable strategy for improving population health regarding alcohol consumption.