Financial Impact of Health Promotion Programs: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature

Abstract

There are good correlational data to suggest that high levels of stress, excessive body weight, and multiple risk factors are associated with increased health care costs and illness-related absenteeism. The associations between seat belt use, cholesterol, diet, hypertension, and alcohol abuse and absenteeism and health care expenditures are either mixed or unknown. Health promotion programs are associated with lower levels of absenteeism and health care costs, and fitness programs are associated with reduced health care costs.

New Hope for Correctional Officers: An Innovative Program for Reducing Stress and Health Risks

“…Health Care Costs A number of health risk factors have been shown to be associated with higher health care costs (Table 1). The presence of multiple risk factors provides a better prediction of future costs than any single factor (Aldana 2001). Studies by Yen et al (1991) established annual health care costs associated with multiple risk factors.…”

“…This review also concluded that health promotion programs are associated with reduced health care costs (Aldana 2001).…”

Is it cost-effective the development of health promotion programs in the workplace?: a systematic review

“…Varias revisiones de la literatura soportan que estudios experimentales o cuasiexperimentales sobre programas de salud basados en cambios de estilos de vida y que utilizan comunicación y consejos individualizados en trabajadores de alto riesgo producen un retorno económico positivo al empresario 5,7-10. La literatura también destaca que muchos de los estudios que tuvieron resultados negativos eran de poca calidad científica (no eran estudios randomizados ni experimentales con presencia de varios sesgos; el más común el sesgo de selección entre el grupo que recibía el programa de salud y el grupo control) 5,8 .…”

Building a Bridge Between Physical Therapists and Fitness Professionals: The Development of a Business Plan for San Luis Sports Therapy Clinics

“…Both the nature of the findings and the overall quality of the literature were evaluated in an attempt to answer two questions: Do individuals or populations with high health risks have worse financial outcomes than individuals or populations with low health risks? Aldana (2001) found that health promotion programs were associated with lower levels of absenteeism and healthcare costs, while fitness programs are associated with reduced healthcare costs. 10 Fries et al (1993) performed a study of 4,712 Bank of America retirees to evaluate the effectiveness of a health promotion program in terms of health risk reduction and reduction in medical costs.…”

“…Aldana and Pronk (2001) conducted a review of literature and found that health promotion programs can lead to a reduction in healthcare costs and reduced absenteeism by up to 20%. Aldana (2001) reviewed 72 studies to summarize the literature on health promotion programs and their impact on employee-related healthcare expenditures and absenteeism. Both the nature of the findings and the overall quality of the literature were evaluated in an attempt to answer two questions: Do individuals or populations with high health risks have worse financial outcomes than individuals or populations with low health risks?…”