HealthLinks randomized controlled trial: Design and baseline results

Area of Science:

• Occupational health
• Health promotion
• Worksite wellness

Background:

• Small employers, particularly in low-wage sectors, often lack resources for health promotion.
• Implementing evidence-based interventions requires tailored support for these businesses.

Purpose of the Study:

• Describe the HealthLinks Trial intervention design and study protocol.
• Report baseline findings on worksite health promotion implementation.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of the HealthLinks intervention and wellness committees.

Main Methods:

• Three-arm randomized controlled trial involving 78 employers and 3302 employees.
• Intervention groups: HealthLinks, HealthLinks plus wellness committees, and a delayed control group.
• Data collection via baseline surveys and follow-up at one and two years for implementation and maintenance.

Main Results:

• Baseline data collected from 78 employers and 3302 employees.
• Study is designed to measure intervention implementation at one year and maintenance at two years.
• Analysis will determine the impact of HealthLinks and wellness committees on evidence-based health promotion.

Conclusions:

• The HealthLinks Trial will determine if the intervention effectively increases health promotion in small, low-wage worksites.
• Investigates whether wellness committees enhance the effectiveness of health promotion interventions.
• Findings will inform strategies for supporting health promotion in underserved business settings.