Background
Workplaces are an important setting to deliver program to reduce risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCDs). To help decision makers understand the most current and relevant evidence regarding effectiveness of workplace programs, we conducted an umbrella review to present a comprehensive synthesis of the large volume of literature.
Methods
Systematic reviews of workplace interventions targeting primary risk factors for NCDs: unhealthy diet, insufficient physical activity, overweight/obesity, tobacco use and/or excessive alcohol use, published since 2010 were sourced. For each risk factor, reviews were categorised by intervention type and quality. The most recent, high-quality review was included for each intervention type. Evidence for the effectiveness of each intervention type was then broadly classified based on the review summary findings.
Results
Twenty-one reviews were included. Most reviews focused on diet (n = 5), physical activity (n = 7) or obesity (n = 9) interventions, with fewer targeting alcohol (n = 2) or tobacco (n = 2) use. Reviews of interventions focussing on individual behaviour (such as education or counselling) were most common. Across diet, obesity, physical activity and tobacco use, multicomponent interventions were consistently likely to be classified as “likely effective”. Motivational interviewing and broad health promotion interventions were identified as “promising” for alcohol use.
Conclusion
This umbrella review identified that multicomponent workplace interventions were effective to reduce NCD risk factors. There is a gap around interventions targeting alcohol use as most syntheses lacked enough studies to draw conclusions about effectiveness. Exploring the impact of interventions that utilise policy and/or environmental strategies is a critical gap for future research.
