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Eight-Year Health Risks Trend Analysis of a Comprehensive Workplace Health Promotion Program

Author

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  • Antti Äikäs

    (Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, 40014 Jyväskylä, Finland)

  • Pilvikki Absetz

    (Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University, 33014 Tampere, Finland)

  • Mirja Hirvensalo

    (Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, 40014 Jyväskylä, Finland)

  • Nicolaas Pronk

    (HealthPartners Institute, HealthPartners, Bloomington, MN 55420, USA)

Abstract

Research has shown that workplace health promotion (WHP) efforts can positively affect employees’ health risk accumulation. However, earlier literature has provided insights of health risk changes in the short-term. This prospective longitudinal quasi-experimental study investigated trends in health risks of a comprehensive, eight-year WHP program ( n = 523–651). Health risk data were collected from health risk assessments in 2010–2011, 2013–2014, and 2016–2017, applying both a questionnaire and biometric screenings. Health risk changes were investigated for three different time-periods, 2010–2013, 2014–2017, and 2010–2017, using descriptive analyses, t -tests, and the Wilcoxon Signed Rank and McNemar’s test, where appropriate. Overall health risk transitions were assessed according to low-, moderate-, and high-risk categories. Trend analyses observed 50–60% prevalence for low-, 30–35% for moderate-, and 9–11% high-risk levels across the eight years. In the overall health risk transitions of the three time-periods, 66–73% of participants stayed at the same risk level, 13–15% of participants improved, and 12–21% had deteriorated risk level across the three intervention periods. Our findings appear to indicate that the multiyear WHP program was effective in maintaining low and moderate risk levels, but fell short of reducing the total number of health risks at the population level.

Suggested Citation

  • Antti Äikäs & Pilvikki Absetz & Mirja Hirvensalo & Nicolaas Pronk, 2020. "Eight-Year Health Risks Trend Analysis of a Comprehensive Workplace Health Promotion Program," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-16, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:24:p:9426-:d:462942
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Baicker, Katherine & Cutler, David M. & Song, Zirui, 2010. "Workplace Wellness Programs Can Generate Savings," Scholarly Articles 5345879, Harvard University Department of Economics.
    2. Linnan, L. & Bowling, M. & Childress, J. & Lindsay, G. & Blakey, C. & Pronk, S. & Wieker, S. & Royall, P., 2008. "Results of the 2004 National Worksite Health Promotion Survey," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 98(8), pages 1503-1509.
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