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Understanding the durability of a fire department wellness program
Linda Mabry1, Diane L Elliot, David P Mackinnon
1Washington State University Vancouver, Department of Teaching and Learning, Vancouver, WA, USA.
American Journal of Health Behavior
|August 30, 2013
Summary
Firefighter wellness programs show lasting benefits, spreading even to those not in the program. Teamwork and healthy norms drive this durable health change.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Behavioral Science
- Public Health
Background:
- Worksite wellness programs are crucial for improving employee health.
- The fire service presents unique occupational health challenges.
- Understanding the long-term impact and spread of wellness interventions is vital.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify factors influencing the durability and diffusion of benefits from a fire service wellness program.
- To assess the long-term sustainability of health improvements initiated by a workplace intervention.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative assessment utilizing group interviews.
- Longitudinal study following a controlled worksite wellness trial.
Main Results:
- Behavioral improvements were durable five years post-intervention and diffused to control participants.
- Key influences included team orientation, enacted healthy norms, and health assessment competitiveness.
- Individual changes coalesced into group effects, leading to a workplace culture shift.
Conclusions:
- The fire service wellness program demonstrated sustainable positive health changes.
- Strategies for achieving durable health improvements in the fire service may be applicable to other occupational settings.
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