Strategies for Worksite Health Interventions to Employees with Elevated Risk of Chronic Diseases

Abstract

Chronic disease rates have become more prevalent in the modern American workforce, which has negative implications for workplace productivity and healthcare costs. Offering workplace health interventions is recognized as an effective strategy to reduce chronic disease progression, absenteeism, and healthcare costs as well as improve population health. This review documents intervention and evaluation strategies used for health promotion programs delivered in workplaces. Using predetermined search terms in five online databases, we identified 1,131 published items from 1995 to 2014. Of these items, 27 peer-reviewed articles met the inclusion criteria; reporting data from completed United States-based workplace interventions that recruited at-risk employees based on their disease or disease-related risk factors. A content rubric was developed and used to catalogue these 27 published field studies. Selected workplace interventions targeted obesity (n = 13), cardiovascular diseases (n = 8), and diabetes (n = 6). Intervention strategies included instructional education/counseling (n = 20), workplace environmental change (n = 6), physical activity (n = 10), use of technology (n = 10), and incentives (n = 13). Self-reported data (n = 21), anthropometric measurements (n = 17), and laboratory tests (n = 14) were used most often in studies with outcome evaluation. This is the first literature review to focus on interventions for employees with elevated risk for chronic diseases. The review has the potential to inform future workplace health interventions by presenting strategies related to implementation and evaluation strategies in workplace settings. These strategies can help determine optimal worksite health programs based on the unique characteristics of work settings and the health risk factors of their employee populations.

The Effects of Workplace Physical Activity Programs in Musculoskeletal Pain: A Systematic Review

“…Generally, health promotion programs are having some success in reducing employee health risks, but changing human lifestyles is really an arduous assignment [14,21].…”

“…In the literature there are some well-documented effective initiatives that included diet programs for reducing weight and PA programs for improving physical capacity and reduce musculoskeletal pain among workers [12][13][14][15]. PA interventions improve muscle strength, stretching and postural control such as coordination training which may be particularly relevant for preventing osteoarticular deterioration and musculoskeletal pain in workers [12][13][14][15][16].…”

“…PA interventions improve muscle strength, stretching and postural control such as coordination training which may be particularly relevant for preventing osteoarticular deterioration and musculoskeletal pain in workers [12][13][14][15][16].…”

“…leave, costs and prevention of new episodes of pain and physical discomfort and consequently MSDs [17][18][19]. It appears that there are advantages in adopting active lifestyles, both at individual and professional/employment [20].Generally, health promotion programs are having some success in reducing employee health risks, but changing human lifestyles is really an arduous assignment [14,21].PA intervention programs may have a positive impact both in the perspective of the employee and in the perspective of the employer. Therefore, it is necessary to analyse the effects these programs may have in real workplace settings.…”

“…diet and ergonomics) seem to have a positive effect on the prevention of some MSDs, and comprehensive treatment interventions seem have an effect on sick leave, costs and prevention of new episodes of pain and physical discomfort and consequently MSDs [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31]. It appears that there are advantages in adopting active lifestyles, both at individual and professional/employment [14,20].PA intervention is a helpful feature to consider when dealing with some issues currently experienced by companies. However, some evidence suggests that PA interventions in the workplace may not have a significant positive impact in bio psychosocial factors particularly, in reducing musculoskeletal disorders and associated symptoms (i.e.…”