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A new model for employer-provided health education programs
Journal of Occupational Medicine. : Official Publication of the Industrial Medical Association
|June 1, 1983
Summary
Employer health education programs often follow a recommended model but require significant resources. Many organizations delay implementation due to cost concerns, necessitating a review of current strategies and exploration of more cost-effective alternatives.
Area of Science:
- Health Education Program Development
- Occupational Health
- Program Evaluation
Background:
- The standard model for employer-provided health education programs involves needs assessment, interest surveys, program development/implementation, and evaluation.
- This comprehensive model demands substantial time and resources, often exceeding organizational willingness to invest.
- Consequently, many employers postpone program implementation pending proof of cost-effectiveness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy and resource demands of the current, widely recommended model for employer health education programs.
- To explore and consider alternative approaches to health education program delivery that may offer greater cost-effectiveness.
- To address the barrier of perceived high cost and resource intensity hindering the adoption of beneficial workplace health initiatives.
Main Methods:
- Review and analysis of the established four-stage model for employer health education programs.
- Assessment of the resource requirements (time, financial investment) associated with the current model.
- Identification of potential barriers to implementation, particularly concerning cost-effectiveness.
Main Results:
- The recommended model, while thorough, presents a significant barrier due to its high demand for time and resources.
- A gap exists between the ideal program model and practical organizational capacity for implementation.
- The deferral of implementation by employers highlights a critical need for cost-effectiveness validation.
Conclusions:
- The current standard model for employer health education programs is often perceived as too resource-intensive for widespread adoption.
- There is a clear necessity to evaluate existing program models and investigate novel, more cost-effective strategies.
- Future efforts should focus on developing and promoting health education approaches that balance effectiveness with organizational feasibility.