Health Promotion Strategies

Stress continues to drive staff members’ work-related health concerns, which is probably why most respondents (78 percent) in a recent survey claim they would take part in a Company Health Promotion Initiative to help their overall health and wellness.

In a recent study commissioned by the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses, Inc. (AAOHN), 500 full-time staff members nationwide were interviewed telephonically.

“Today’s staff members are clearly dealing with a lot of pressures such as the effects of 9/11, an unstable economy, national security threats and work/balance issues. There is a real opportunity for corporations to serve as an ally to their staff members by providing them with resources to better manage their physical and emotional health – anything from stress management seminars to nutrition and exercise counseling,” says Deborah V. DiBenedetto, president of AAOHN.

Nearly 80 percent of respondents believe their health would improve if they were offered the right information and tools through a viable Employee Health Promotion Program.

Topping the list of most interesting Employee Health Promotion Programs cited by staff members is stress management (85 percent), closely followed by testing programs (84 percent), exercise/physical fitness programs (84 percent), health insurance education (81 percent) and disease management seminars (80 percent).

More than 50% of staff members (61 percent) would prefer to receive health and wellness information from a health care consultant or worksite nurse, compared to pamphlets or brochures (18 percent) or human resources staff (15 percent).