Effects of a tailored health promotion program for female blue-collar workers: health works for women.
BACKGROUND
This study assessed the effects of the Health Works for Women (HWW) intervention on improving multiple behaviors including nutrition and physical activity among rural female blue-collar employees in North Carolina.


METHODS
Nine small to mid-size workplaces were randomly assigned to either intervention or delayed intervention conditions. After a baseline survey, an intervention consisting of two computer-tailored magazines and a natural helpers program was conducted over 18 months. Delayed worksites received one tailored magazine. Approximately 77 and 76% of baseline respondents completed follow-up surveys at 6 and 18 months, respectively, and 538 women (63%) completed all three surveys.


RESULTS
At the 18-month follow-up, the intervention group had increased fruit and vegetable consumption by 0.7 daily servings compared to no change in the delayed group (P < 0.05). Significant differences in fat intake were observed at 6 months (P < 0.05) but not at 18 months. The intervention group also demonstrated improvements in strengthening and flexibility exercise compared to the delayed group. The rates of smoking cessation and cancer screening did not differ between study groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The HWW project was a successful model for achieving certain health behavior changes among blue-collar women.
Campbell
Marci Kramish
MK
Department of Nutrition, Campus Box 7400, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA. marci_campbell@unc.edu
Tessaro
Irene
I
DeVellis
Brenda
B
Benedict
Salli
S
Kelsey
Kristine
K
Belton
Leigh
L
Sanhueza
Antonio
A
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001294:Attitude to Health; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009657:North Carolina; D009786:Occupational Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D011315:Preventive Medicine / Q000379:methods; D011336:Probability; D015397:Program Evaluation; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014932:Women's Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017132:Workplace