title: Change in health risks and work productivity over time.
abstract: We sought to examine the relationship between changes in health risks and changes in work productivity. Pre- and postanalysis was conducted on 500 subjects who participated in a wellness program at a large national employer. Change in health risks was analyzed using McNemar chi-square tests, and change in mean productivity was analyzed using paired t tests. A repeated measures regression model examined whether a change in productivity was associated with a change in health risks, controlling for age and gender. Individuals who reduced one health risk improved their presenteeism by 9% and reduced absenteeism by 2%, controlling for baseline risk level, age, gender, and interaction of baseline risk and risk change. In conclusion, reductions in health risks are associated with positive changes in work productivity. Self-reported work productivity may have utility in the evaluation of health promotion programs.
authors.affiliation: Aetna Inc., Hartford, Connecticut, USA. PelleteirBL@aetna.com
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pelletier
authors.forename: Myde
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boles
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lynch
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors