The relationship of repeated health risk appraisal and lifestyle behavior change in employed adults
Abstract
The purpose of the study was to investigate the impact of repeated Health Risk Appraisal (HRA), and the personalized feedback that they generate on employed adults. Health risk appraisals are used extensively by employers as a worksite wellness intervention to improve employee health status and reduce health care costs. In this study, secondary analysis of three years of HRA data was undertaken to determine the impact of HRAs on self-reported lifestyle behaviors and risks. Statistically significant reductions in mean blood pressure, total serum cholesterol, dietary fat intake and total number of health risks were found while no significant changes were reported for body mass index, Framingham Risk Scores, or aerobic classification. No significant mean differences were found for stages of change across five studied lifestyle behaviors, however overall greater numbers of participants either maintained their current stage or progressed to a higher stage (reflecting greater intent to engage in the proposed activity) over the three year time span. Finally, a relationship was supported between number of risks, emotional health and stages of change. An increase in number of risks encouraged stage of change progression towards healthy behaviors while poorer emotional health was correlated with a greater number of risks. These data appeared to support the effectiveness of HRAs with personalized feedback as a useful intervention for worksites. There were several limitations to this study, thus future research needs to address more clearly the specific role of HRAs as a component of comprehensive worksite wellness programming.
Degree
Ph.D.
Advisors
Hyner, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Occupational health|Health education
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