Work Site Health Program Cuts Absenteeism

Employees who participated in a work site health program improved blood pressure control by 9 percent and diabetes control by 15 percent, says a U.S. study.

The program uses a Health Risk Assessment, a screening tool that includes measures of employees’ health through blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol testing. It also includes a 60-question survey that asks about current health status, family history, daily nutrition, physical activity, the use of alcohol and tobacco, safe habits such as seat belt usage, stress, depression and gender-related health questions.

The survey also questions how willing an employee is to make lifestyle changes related to health and safety and provides coaching.

From 2004 to 2006, 2,100 workers of a municipal utility in Jacksonville, Fla., were tracked. The study found the number of employees who missed work due to hypertension dropped from 25.8 percent to 15.6 percent, while those who missed work because of diabetes dropped from 50 percent to 16.9 percent.

The findings were presented at the American Heart Association’s eighth Scientific Forum on Quality of Care and Outcomes Research in Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke in Washington.