| Description |
The Salt Lake Valley Health Department established a worksite intervention called the Healthy Lifestyle Incentive Program (HLIP) in 1990, as a voluntary option for 4000 eligible employees. Its initial impact on health risk factors was evaluated in 1996. After 18 years in operation, this study reports on facets of the program from three different studies, with the perspective of its long history. Five different sets of guidelines from the literature and industry experts were synthesized, and a process evaluation on the existing program used the resulting 10 elements. A quantitative analysis used data gathered from archived records for employees; who participated between 1997 and 2007. With a quasi-experimental retrospective cohort study design, dosage levels were compared to outcomes, with post hoc subgroup analysis. The indicator for dosage was the annual points earned by participants. A final study was a comparison between self-reports of health behaviors and the participants' biometric outcomes over 10 years, as an evaluation of the accuracy of the self-reports upon which most of the program's incentive-award system is based. In the process evaluation, HLIP's greatest strengths were found in comprehensive screening which addresses multiple health issues and a well-developed incentive plan. Weaknesses were found in involving stakeholder partners in program planning and in building cultural and social supports. A demographic summary showed that long-term participants in HLIP were more likely to be female, college educated, and White or; Asian. The quantitative analysis showed that decreasing BMI, body fat percent, and total blood cholesterol were significantly correlated with increased intervention dosage. Post hoc subgroup comparisons for BMI, blood pressure and blood cholesterol risk categories showed greatest improvements resulted for those in the highest risk levels. On the basis of this study, HLIP has demonstrated effectiveness in many areas, and has the potential for more impacts on employee health by focusing on areas identified. |
