Psychosocial predictors of participation in a work site health-promotion program

Article Abstract:

As more industries develop health promotion programs, it has become important to know more about the employees who choose to participate in these programs and why they choose to do so. The authors assessed the psychosocial factors that affected the decision-making process of employees who did and did not participate in a work site wellness program. Among the variables that were used to gauge employee participation were program efficacy, belief in the health program model, social support, stress, previous experience with similar programs, importance of good health, and job satisfaction and commitment. Employees with high program efficacy had higher participation rates than employees with low efficacy. This means that participants were more likely to have confidence about engaging in the healthy behavior and believed that doing so would improve their health. None of the other variables were significantly associated with program participation. Social support for program participation appeared to encourage participation among nonwhite employees. The desire for information and concerns about personal health, how to improve health and physical fitness, family medical history, and general convenience also favored participation. Nonparticipants indicated preoccupation with work, lack of time, satisfaction with their health status, and various expressions of lack of confidence in the program as reasons for not enrolling. The answers to the question "What changes would encourage nonparticipants to join the program?" included: increased publicity, greater confidence in company commitment and effort, more time, greater convenience, and a defined personal need. Satisfying nonparticipating employees' personal needs, increased company support, and initiating the program at the ''right time'' may contribute to greater participation and interest in work site health promotion programs. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Psychological aspects, Management

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Demographic and health characteristics of participants and nonparticipants in a work site health-promotion program

Article Abstract:

In an effort to reduce time lost from work and improve the health of their employees, many industries are providing work-site health promotion programs. To learn more about which employees attend these programs and who benefits from these efforts, the opportunity to participate in such a program was presented to the workers at a research and development facility. All 505 employees received questionnaires to establish baseline information concerning their health status and health habits. Nonrespondents were resolicited one month later. Demographic and other pertinent data were gathered from personnel records. Established test measures were used to standardize responses in terms of self-assessments of health status, obesity, smoking, and exercise. A total of 396 employees (78 percent) returned the questionnaires. Educational levels were the same among respondents and nonrespondents. Subsequently, 34 percent of the respondents enrolled in the health-promotion program. White employees and those who participated in health maintenance organizations (HMOs) were more likely to participate than nonwhite employees and those who used fee-for-service health care. There was no difference between the self-reported health status of participants and nonparticipants. The reduced participation of nonwhite employees in wellness programs has been observed in similar studies. These findings suggest that work-site health-promotion programs can have a positive impact on employees and do not appeal only to workers in good health or those who have healthy habits. The study also demonstrates the need to develop better ways to reach nonwhite employees. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Demographic aspects

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A comparison of cause-specific mortality among participants and nonparticipants in a work-site medical surveillance program

Article Abstract:

Many employers offer preventative medical programs to their employees. These programs usually are geared toward prevention and early detection of disease. They are also voluntary, and the number of employees who take advantage of them varies greatly. People who do not respond to health surveys tend to be in poorer health than those who do respond. In this study, the death rates and causes of death were compared for male employees at a Dow Chemical plant who either did or did not participate in the health program at work. Of 18,071 employees, 11,156 (61.7 percent) participated in the program at least once between February 1967 and January 1978. Results showed that when adjustments for age were made, the death rate (mortality) was higher among the nonparticipants, particularly during the first five years of follow-up. The mortality was 23 percent higher among the nonparticipants, a significant difference. Mortality was higher among nonparticipants for all causes of death examined, but was especially high for deaths related to alcohol abuse and smoking. These results indicate that, as a group, the nonparticipants are in poorer health and have poorer health habits than those who do participate in work-related health programs. Efforts are needed to design more effective means to improve the health of this population. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Usage, Medical examination, Occupational health services, Workers

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