The impact on factory workers of health risk appraisal and counseling in health promotion.
One hundred thirty-six subjects employed at a textile plant in eastern North Carolina participated in a voluntary health risk appraisal (HRA) administration and health screening at the work site. The subjects consisted of 74 whites (73% women and 27% men) and 62 blacks (98% women and 2% men). Six weeks after the HRA administration and health screening, participants received their results at individual counseling sessions conducted by health educators and registered nurses, who presented prevention recommendations derived from HRA and screening results related to select physiological indices and lifestyle behaviors. Six months following the initial intervention, we conducted an identical follow-up screening. Eight months following the initial intervention, we administered a health behavior questionnaire designed to determine the impact of the HRA on select health-related behaviors and subjects' recall level of HRA recommendations. Results of this study indicate that changes in subjects' self-reported health behaviors were related to recommendations presented at counseling sessions. The majority of the subjects accurately recalled HRA recommendations eight months after HRA administration. Ninety-three percent of the employees indicated making at least one positive lifestyle behavioral change, and 50% of the subjects who were referred to a doctor or health professional based on HRA recommendations reported doing so. Risk age did not appear to influence the individual's likelihood of attending the second health screening. Ninety-eight percent of the subjects indicated that they would like a yearly HRA or health screening conducted at the work site, and 88% of the subjects indicated that the HRA results encouraged them to continue practicing healthy behaviors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Kellerman
S T
ST
Student Health Services, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858-4353.
Felts
W M
WM
Chenier
T C
TC
D000328:Adult; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006293:Health Promotion; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009657:North Carolina; D009786:Occupational Health Services; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013783:Textile Industry