Implementing Health Education Programs in the Workplace

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Implementing Health Education Programs in the
Workplace

• Tim Lawton, MD
• Vitae Lifestyle Medical Center
• 316-267-3900
• www.vitaemedical.com

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Components of Successful Health Management
Systems
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Identify Specific Needs Goals

• Company A
• Our top two concerns are mental health and
  obesity.
• We spend more for antidepressants than any other
  class of drug.
• Sixty percent of our employees are overweight or
  obese.

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Identify Cost Factors Related to Depression and
Obesity

• According to the HERO study, people with
  depression had 90 higher medical claims than
  those w/o depression.
• According to a Kaiser Permanente study, obese
  individuals had 75 higher claims than those with
  a BMI lt 25.

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Depression and Lost Productivity
Workers with depression had 3.7 times more lost
productive time than those without
depression. U.S. workers with depression cost
employers an excess of 31 billion per year.
Lost productive time (hr/wk)
n692
Source JAMA, June 18, 2003
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Obesity and Healthcare Costs
Median annual health care costs were 75 higher
(252) in the over-weight group compared to the
healthy weight group.
Healthcare costs ()
n539
Kaiser Permanente Study, Archives of Internal
Medicine, Oct. 25, 2004
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GM Study Overweight and Healthcare Costs

• Overweight workers cost 273 more/yr than
  healthy weight workers.
• Obese workers (BMI 30) cost 767 more per year
  than normal weight active employees.

Healthcare Costs/Yr ()
39 more
Auto Workers
n23,490
Source Journal of Occupational and
Environmental Medicine, May 2004
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3. Intervention

• Planning successful
• wellness programs

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Creating a Wellness Strategy

• Goals for Company A
• Reduce depression
• Reduce obesity
• Reduce medical claims

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Reducing Depression

• Managing Stress
• Yoga/relaxation class
• Stress management class
• Healthy sleep habits
• Improved nutrition
• Increase physical activity
• Increase awareness of depression and appropriate
  treatment

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Healthy Weight

• Nutrition education programs
• Cooking classes
• Healthier choices in cafeteria/vending
• Increase physical activity
• Monthly wellness challenges with incentives
• Tracking

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Sample Wellness Calendar
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HealthInterventionProgram
Sample Curriculum
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Program Details

• 1-1.5 hrs/wk for class
• Personal responsibility and participation
  emphasized
• At home activities include physical activity,
  nutrition, tracking and short reading assignment
• Pedometers measure steps, miles and calories

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In Class

• Table groups compete weekly for most miles
  walked or other health activities
• Interactive lecture with QA
• Periodic check of weight/BP
• New foods/recipes to try
• Weekly at home assignments

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Coors Lifecheck Program Results

• An 8-week lifestyle change program
• Cost 32/person
• 692 participants
• They documented these results
• Lower blood pressure
• Lower cholesterol
• Reduced body weight

Aldana SG, Financial Impact of Health Promotion,
The Art of Health Promotion 2(1)
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Other topics for programs

• Smoking cessation
• Lifelong fitness
• Weight management
• Controlling cholesterol
• Managing stress
• Overcoming depression
• Managing blood pressure

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Sample MonthlyWellnessNewsletter
Available on paper or online
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SampleWellnessChallenge
Tracking may be done on paper or online.
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Increasing Physical Activity

• Encourage walking over lunch hour/breaks
• Map out walking trails
• Use of stairs instead of elevators
• Gym memberships or onsite fitness center
• Employees brainstorm creative ways to increase
  physical activity (employee participation in
  forming wellness strategy)

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Exercise Program Results

• Tenneco Corporation initiated a fitness program
• Those joining the fitness program had
• 20 to 47 lower absenteeism rate (men, women)
• 47 decrease in healthcare costs, compared to the
  non-exercisers

Journal of Occupational Medicine 28(1)18-22
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GM Study Physical Activity and Healthcare Costs

• Compared to sedentary workers, those getting
  regular physical activity cost 459 to 514 less
  per year in health care costs

Healthcare Costs/Yr ()
n23,490
Physical Activity, Times/Week
Source Journal of Occupational and Environmental
Medicine, May 2004
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Lunch-n-Learn Lectures

• Variety of topics
• Based on interests and identified needs
• Offered monthly
• Time/location to reach intended audience
• Marketing/promotion to increase participation
• QA
• Interactive format

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4. Trackingand5. Outcomes

• Case Studies

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Case Study 1

• Manufacturing high-tech industry
• Tektronix Executives

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Case StudyTektronix Executives

• Initial concern preventing a heart attack
• Started with a health/fitness assessment
  (Personal Wellness Profile)
• Group evaluation/goal setting session
• 2-hour seminar on health and fitness
• Workshop on eating for heart health
• Challengewho can make the most improvement in
  six months?
• Based on pretest and six month post test
• Rewardweekend for two at a beach resort

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Document Lifestyle Changes
Dietary Factors
Percent Change ()
Tektronix Executives, data from Wellsource, Inc.
after 6 mo. Wellness program
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Measure Outcomes
Coronary Risk Factors
Percent Change in Risk Factors After 6 Months ()
Tektronix Executives, data from Wellsource, Inc.
after 6 mo. Wellness program
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Case StudyTektronix Executives
Fitness Factors
Percent Change in Fitness Factors After 6
Months ()
Tektronix Executives, data from Wellsource, Inc.
after 6 mo. Wellness program
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CEOs Evaluation

• Written evaluation by a corporate executive about
  his management staff, 6 months after beginning
  their wellness program
• My employees look better, feel better, and
  work better.
• -Tektronix general manager

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Case Study 2

• Healthcare industry
• Hospital - 1200 employees

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Case StudyAdventist Hospital

• Initial concern highest medical claims in the
  city
• Divided employees into a wellness or control
  group
• Health and lifestyle assessment (PWP)
• Also included health screening blood tests, BP,
  fitness tests, body composition, etc.
• Followed with a group evaluation
• 2-hour workshop, spouses invited, set personal
  goals
• Targeted high-risk individuals (high BP, chol)
• Health programs stress, wt loss, 8 week wellness
  challenge, lunch n learn seminars, fitness
  classes
• Provided a tracking and incentive program
• Conducted a year-end evaluation

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Case StudyAdventist Hospital
Medical Claims Average for the year
(n1,200)
366 less
25 hr. less
ROI 6 to 1
Data provided by Blue Cross Insurance Co.
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Other Case Studies ROI

• Bank of America 5.96 to 1
• PacBell 3.10 to 1
• Wisconsin School District 4.47 to 1
• Prudential Insurance 2.90 to 1
• General Mills 3.50 to 1
• Citibank 6.30 to 1
• A recent study of 8 companies with wellness
  programs had an average ROI of 3.35 to 1

Source Healthy Workforce, Partnership for
Prevention
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Health Interventions - Summary

• Many types interventions are available to fit a
  variety of corporate environments
• Targeted strategy is key
• Monitor participation and outcomes
• Be flexible to change/improve programs
• A successful program requires careful planning
  and execution