Association Between Corporate Wellness Program Participation and Changes in Health Risks.
John C White1, Stephen Hartley, Ronald J Ozminkowski
1Health Economics Outcome Research, Optum, Minneapolis, Minnesota (Dr White); Consumer Solutions Group, Optum, Phoenix, Arizona (Mr Hartley); Consumer Solutions Group, Optum, Ann Arbor, Michigan (Dr Ozminkowski).
Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
|October 14, 2015
Summary
Employee wellness programs significantly reduce health risks, especially when multiple activities are completed. Participation in coaching programs also showed notable improvements in areas like blood pressure and weight management.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Preventive Medicine
- Health Promotion
Background:
- Employee health risks represent a significant burden on individuals and organizations.
- Wellness programs aim to mitigate these risks through various interventions.
- Understanding the efficacy of these programs is crucial for targeted health strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the association between participation in employee wellness programs and the reduction of specific health risks.
- To determine if the extent of program engagement influences health risk outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of health-risk appraisal data and wellness program participation records for 173,901 employees.
- Assessment of changes in seven key health risk factors: blood pressure, body weight, cholesterol, nutrition, physical inactivity, stress, and tobacco use.
- Statistical control for baseline covariates to isolate the impact of wellness program participation.
Main Results:
- Employees in high-risk categories who engaged in coaching programs demonstrated significant reductions in five out of seven assessed health risks compared to a control group.
- Participation in multiple wellness activities, such as biometric screenings, was linked to increased likelihood of risk reduction.
- The overall number of improved health risk levels exceeded the number of worsened levels.
Conclusions:
- Employee wellness program participation is demonstrably linked to significant health risk reduction.
- The positive impact on health risks is amplified for individuals engaging in multiple wellness program components.
- These findings support the integration and promotion of comprehensive wellness initiatives in the workplace.
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