Nutrition Research and Practice

The Korean Nutrition Society (한국영양학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Barriers to participation in a worksite wellness program

  • Received : 2010.02.24
  • Accepted : 2010.04.07
  • Published : 2010.04.28
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to determine barriers that prevent participation in an employee wellness program, Wellness Wednesdays: "Eat & Meet" About Healthy Living, conducted at East Carolina University (ECU) in Greenville, North Carolina. All ECU ARAMARK employees (n = 481) over the age of 18 were eligible to participate in the wellness program. Weekly 30 minute classes, taught by a Registered Dietitian, on various nutrition- and health-related topics were conducted for 10-weeks. Five question knowledge quizzes were administered to participants at the end of each class to determine the comprehension of material presented. Qualitative interviews (n = 19) were conducted with employees (participants and non-participants) and the program organizer after the completion of the 10-week program to identify barriers to program participation. A total of 50 (10.4% of the total number of potential participants) ECU ARAMARK employees, managers, and leadership team directors attended Wellness Wednesdays at least once during the 10-week program. Employees, on average, scored 71-100% on the weekly knowledge quizzes administered at the end of each class. The most common barriers to participation reported included (most often to least often reported): insufficient incentives, inconvenient locations, time limitations, not interested in topics presented, undefined reasons, schedule, marketing, health beliefs, and not interested in the program. Results showed that employee wellness programs can be effective in increasing knowledge of employees on nutrition- and health-related topics. However, program planning that addresses identified barriers including insufficient incentives, inconvenient locations, and time limitations may facilitate higher participation in future worksite wellness opportunities.

Keywords

References

  1. Heron M, Hoyert DL, Murphy SL, Xu J, Kochanek KD, Tejada-Vera B, Division of Vital Statistics. Deaths: final data for 2006. Natl Vital Stat Rep 2009;57:1-135.
  2. Carnethon M, Whitsel LP, Franklin BA, Kris-Etherton P, Milani R, Pratt CA, Wagner GR. Worksite wellness programs for cardiovascular disease prevention: a policy statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation 2009;120:1725-41. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.109.192653
  3. Ogden CL, Carroll MD, Curtin LR, McDowell MA, Tabak CJ, Flegal KM. Prevalence of overweight and obesity in the United States, 1999-2004. JAMA 2006;295:1549-55. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.295.13.1549
  4. Kruger J, Yore MM, Ainsworth BE, Macera CA. Is participation in occupational physical activity associated with lifestyle physical activity levels? J Occup Environ Med 2006;48:1143-8. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.jom.0000245919.37147.79
  5. Pronk NP, Kottke TE. Physical activity promotion as a strategic corporate priority to improve worker health and business performance. Prev Med 2009;49:316-21. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2009.06.025
  6. Pronk NP, Martinson B, Kessler RC, Beck AL, Simon GE, Wang P. The association between work performance and physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness, and obesity. J Occup Environ Med 2004;46:19-25. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.jom.0000105910.69449.b7
  7. Aldana SG. Financial impact of health promotion programs: a comprehensive review of the literature. Am J Health Promot 2001;15:296-320. https://doi.org/10.4278/0890-1171-15.5.296
  8. Aldana SG, Greenlaw RL, Diehl HA, Salberg A, Merrill RM, Ohmine S. The effects of a worksite chronic disease prevention program. J Occup Environ Med 2005;47:558-64. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.jom.0000165743.18570.66
  9. Van der Klink JJ, Blonk RW, Schene AH, Van Dijk FJ. The benefits of interventions for work-related stress. Am J Public Health 2001;91:270-6. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.91.2.270
  10. Racette SB, Deusinger SS, Inman CL, Burlis TL, Highstein GR, Buskirk TD, Steger-May K, Peterson LR. Worksite opportunities for wellness (WOW): Effects on cardiovascular disease risk factors after 1 year. Prev Med 2009;49:108-14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2009.06.022
  11. Saving Dollars and Making Sense [Internet]. A comprehensive guide to workforce health promotion; [cited 2010 February 10] Available from: http://www.eatsmartmovemorenc.com/ManagementGuide/Texts/WorksitesMgmtGuide.pdf.
  12. Shepard RJ. Do work-site exercise and health programs work? Phys Sportsmed 1999;27:48-72.
  13. Pelletier KR. A review and analysis of the clinical and cost-effectiveness studies of comprehensive health promotion and disease management programs at the worksite: Update VII 2004-2008. J Occup Environ Med 2009;51:822-37. https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0b013e3181a7de5a
  14. Sorenson G, Quintilliani L. Effective programs to promote worker health within healthy and safe worksites. In: Pronk, NP (Ed.), ACSM's Worksite Health Handbook, Second Edition. A Guide to Building Healthy and Productive Companies. Human Kinetics, Champaign, IL; 2009.
  15. Henning R, Warren N, Robertson M, Faghri P, Cherniack M, CPH-NEW Research Team. Workplace health protection and promotion through participatory ergonomics: An integrated approach. Public Health Rep 2009;124:26-35.
  16. Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee. Physical Activity Guidelines Committee Report, 2008. Washington, DC: US Department of Health and Human Services; 2008.
  17. McLeroy KR, Bibeau D, Steckler A, Glanz K. An ecological perspective on health promotion programs. Health Educ Q 1988;15:351-77. https://doi.org/10.1177/109019818801500401
  18. Fielding JE. Health promotion and disease prevention at the worksite. Annu Rev Public Health 1984;5:237-65. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.pu.05.050184.001321
  19. Health Communication Unit. Conditions for successful workplace health promotion initiatives. Toronto: Centre for Health Promotion, University of Toronto; 2002.
  20. Dishman RK, Oldenburg B, O'Neal H, Shepard RJ. Worksite physical activity interventions. Am J Prev Med 1998;15:344-61. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0749-3797(98)00077-4
  21. Matson-Koffman DM, Brownstein JN, Neiner JA, Greaney ML. A site-specific literature review of policy and environmental interventions that promote physical activity and nutrition for cardiovascular health: What works?. Am J Health Promot 2005; 19:167-93. https://doi.org/10.4278/0890-1171-19.3.167
  22. Proper KI, Koning M, Van der Beek AJ, Hildebrandt VH, Bosscher RJ, Van Mechelen W. The effectiveness of worksite physical activity programs on physical activity, physical fitness, and health. Clin J Sport Med 2003;13:106-17. https://doi.org/10.1097/00042752-200303000-00008
  23. Bull SS, Gillette C, Glasgow RE, Estabrooks P. Work site health promotion research: To what extent can we generalize the results and what is needed to translate research to practice? Health Educ Behav 2003;30:537-49. https://doi.org/10.1177/1090198103254340
  24. Langille JD, Berry TA, Reade IL, Witcher C, Loitz CC, Rodgers WM. Strength of messaging in changing attitudes in a workplace wellness program. Health Promot Pract. Article in press; 2009.
  25. Robroek SJW, van Lenthe FJ, van Empelen P, Burdorf A. Determinants of participation in worksite health promotion programmes: A systematic review. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 2009;6:26-37. https://doi.org/10.1186/1479-5868-6-26
  26. McLellan RK, MacKenzie TA, Tilton PA, Dietrich AJ, Comi RJ, Feng YY. Impact of workplace sociocultural attributes on participation in health assessments. J Occup Environ Med 2009; 51:797-803. https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0b013e3181a4b9e8
  27. Sorensen G, Stoddard A, Ockene JK, Hunt MK, Youngstrom R. Worker participation in an integrated health promotion/health protection program: Results from the WellWorks project. Health Educ Q 1996;23:191-203. https://doi.org/10.1177/109019819602300205
  28. Stein AD, Shakour SK, Zuidema RA. Financial incentives, participation in employer-sponsored health promotion, and changes in employee health and productivity: HealthPlus health quotient program. J Occup Environ Med 2000;42:1148-55. https://doi.org/10.1097/00043764-200012000-00005
  29. Hooper JM, Veneziano L. Distinguishing starters from non-starters in an employee physical-activity incentive program. Health Educ Q 1995;22:49-60. https://doi.org/10.1177/109019819502200106
  30. Blake SM, Caspersen CJ, Finnegan J, Crow RA, Mittlemark MB, Ringhofer KR. The shape up challenge: A community-based worksite exercise competition. Am J Health Promot 1996;11: 23-34. https://doi.org/10.4278/0890-1171-11.1.23
  31. Henritze J, Brammell HL, McGloin J. LIFECHECK: a successful, low touch, low tech, in-plant, cardiovascular disease risk identification and modification program. Am J Health Promot 1992;7:129-36.
  32. Adler NE, Newman K. Socioeconomic disparities in health: Pathways and policies. Health Aff (Millwood) 2002;21:60-76. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.21.2.60
  33. Fact Book 2009-2010 [Internet]. Greenville (NC): East Carolina University; 2010 [updated 2010 March 15; cited 2010 March 23]. Available from: http://www.ecu.edu/cs-admin/ipre/FactBook2010.cfm.
  34. Campus Wellness Programs and Services [Internet]. Greenville (NC): East Carolina University; 2010 [updated 2010 January 28; cited 2010 March 23]. Available from: http://www.ecu.edu/csstudentlife/crw/programs/campuswellness/programs_services.cfm.

Cited by

  1. The Impact of Worksite Wellness in a Small Business Setting vol.53, pp.2, 2011, https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0b013e318209e18b
  2. Evaluation of a Best-Practice Worksite Wellness Program in a Small-Employer Setting Using Selected Well-being Indices vol.53, pp.4, 2011, https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0b013e3182143ed0
  3. Employee Attitudes Toward Participation in a Work Site-Based Health and Wellness Clinic vol.25, pp.5, 2012, https://doi.org/10.1177/0897190012442719
  4. Workplace-Based Participatory Approach to Weight Loss for Correctional Employees vol.55, pp.2, 2013, https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0b013e3182717cd4
  5. Reasons for participating and not participating in a e-health workplace physical activity intervention vol.7, pp.4, 2014, https://doi.org/10.1108/IJWHM-11-2013-0040
  6. Involuntary wellness programs: the case of a large US company vol.3, pp.1, 2015, https://doi.org/10.1108/EBHRM-09-2013-0031
  7. Factors Associated With Availability of, and Employee Participation in, Comprehensive Workplace Health Promotion in a Large and Diverse Australian Public Sector Setting vol.57, pp.11, 2015, https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000000538
  8. Differences in health promotion program participation, barriers and physical activity among faculty, staff and administration at a university worksite vol.8, pp.4, 2015, https://doi.org/10.1108/IJWHM-10-2014-0045
  9. A novel dietary improvement strategy: examining the potential impact of community-supported agriculture membership vol.19, pp.14, 2016, https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980015003638
  10. Elderly Workers Living in Urban Areas and Their Experiences in Managing Health vol.28, pp.5, 2016, https://doi.org/10.7475/kjan.2016.28.5.514
  11. Understanding the Relationship between Incentive Design and Participation in U.S. Workplace Wellness Programs vol.30, pp.3, 2016, https://doi.org/10.4278/ajhp.150210-QUAN-718
  12. Financial Incentives and Diabetes Disease Control in Employees: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis vol.31, pp.8, 2016, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-016-3686-2
  13. Which Worksite Supports for Healthy Weight Do Employees Use? vol.48, pp.1, 2016, https://doi.org/10.1177/0013916515607311
  14. Incentives, Program Configuration, and Employee Uptake of Workplace Wellness Programs vol.58, pp.1, 2016, https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000000613
  15. Is More Always Better in Designing Workplace Wellness Programs? vol.58, pp.10, 2016, https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000000848
  16. How do management and non-management employees perceive workplace wellness programmes? A qualitative examination vol.75, pp.5, 2016, https://doi.org/10.1177/0017896915607911
  17. Identifying determinants to predict intention to complete a health risk assessment vol.9, pp.1, 2016, https://doi.org/10.1108/IJWHM-11-2014-0053
  18. Workplace Interventions to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: a Narrative Review vol.17, pp.2, 2017, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11892-017-0840-0
  19. Impact of an Onsite Clinic on Utilization of Preventive Services vol.59, pp.7, 2017, https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000001034
  20. A qualitative study of facilitators and barriers to implementing worksite policies that support physical activity vol.18, pp.1, 2018, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-6045-x
  21. Elements of a Workplace Culture of Health, Perceived Organizational Support for Health, and Lifestyle Risk vol.32, pp.7, 2018, https://doi.org/10.1177/0890117118758235
  22. Economic Evaluations of Workplace Mental Health Interventions: A Critical Review pp.08250383, 2018, https://doi.org/10.1002/cjas.1502
  23. A co-produced cultural approach to workplace alcohol interventions: barriers and facilitators pp.1465-3370, 2018, https://doi.org/10.1080/09687637.2018.1468871
  24. Effectiveness of Integrative Restoration (iRest) Yoga Nidra on Mindfulness, Sleep, and Pain in Health Care Workers vol.32, pp.3, 2018, https://doi.org/10.1097/HNP.0000000000000266
  25. How needs and preferences of employees influence participation in health promotion programs: a six-month follow-up study vol.14, pp.1, 2014, https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-14-1277
  26. Barriers and facilitators for participation in health promotion programs among employees: a six-month follow-up study vol.14, pp.1, 2014, https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-14-573
  27. Effectiveness of 6 Months of Tailored Text Message Reminders for Obese Male Participants in a Worksite Weight Loss Program: Randomized Controlled Trial vol.3, pp.1, 2010, https://doi.org/10.2196/mhealth.3949
  28. Workplace-Based Health and Wellness Programs: The Intersection of Aging, Work, and Health vol.55, pp.2, 2010, https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnu114
  29. Act Healthy: promoting health behaviors and self-efficacy in the workplace vol.30, pp.4, 2010, https://doi.org/10.1093/her/cyv024
  30. Cost and culture: Factors influencing worksite physical activity across three universities vol.55, pp.3, 2010, https://doi.org/10.3233/wor-162426
  31. A randomized controlled trial to evaluate outcomes of a workplace self-management intervention and an intensive monitoring intervention vol.32, pp.3, 2010, https://doi.org/10.1093/her/cyx042
  32. Pharmaceutical use according to participation in worksite wellness screening and health campaigns vol.12, pp.None, 2018, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2018.09.008
  33. Putting the National Diabetes Prevention Program to Work: Predictors of Achieving Weight-Loss Goals in an Employee Population vol.16, pp.None, 2019, https://doi.org/10.5888/pcd16.190053
  34. A RE-AIM Evaluation of a Workplace Physical Activity Microgrant Initiative : The 10,000 Steps Workplace Challenge vol.61, pp.9, 2010, https://doi.org/10.1097/jom.0000000000001653
  35. Evaluating the Impact of a Workplace Wellness Program in Saudi Arabia : An Intra-Department Study vol.61, pp.9, 2010, https://doi.org/10.1097/jom.0000000000001656
  36. Showers, Culture, and Conflict Resolution : A Qualitative Study of Employees’ Perceptions of Workplace Wellness Opportunities vol.61, pp.10, 2010, https://doi.org/10.1097/jom.0000000000001671
  37. Well on the way: An exploratory study on occupational health in hospitality vol.87, pp.None, 2010, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2019.102382