Using a Social Capital Framework to Explore a Broker's Role in Small Employer Wellness Program Uptake and...

Area of Science:

• Occupational health
• Health services research
• Business administration

Background:

• Small employers face challenges in implementing employee wellness programs due to limited knowledge and resources.
• These businesses often depend on external support, particularly from insurance brokers, for decision-making regarding wellness initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess insurance brokers' understanding of wellness programs.
• To define the role and interaction patterns of brokers with small employers concerning wellness programs.

Main Methods:

• Conducted 20 interviews with health insurance brokers across four US states.
• Utilized a 20-question interview guide and analyzed data using thematic analysis with a common codebook.
• Proposed a conceptual framework integrating social capital theory and the RE-AIM model.

Main Results:

• 65% of brokers reported moderate to high familiarity with wellness programs.
• 80% of brokers have advised small business clients on wellness program availability and features.
• Brokers can reduce resource barriers and connect employers to wellness opportunities.

Conclusions:

• Brokers can be influential in promoting small employer wellness programs.
• Supporting brokers with resources can enhance their role as champions for employee wellness initiatives.