Move & Improve: a worksite wellness program in Maine.
BACKGROUND
We describe the evaluation process and outcomes of Move & Improve, a worksite wellness program in Maine. The evaluation process was based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Framework for Program Evaluation in Public Health and community-based participatory research principles. Innovative approaches are required to address burgeoning chronic disease trends and risk factors. Worksites are an ideal setting in which to affect working adults and high-risk individuals. Using community-based participatory research methodology increases community capacity for evaluation, dissemination, and use of evaluation results.


BACKGROUND
Move & Improve is an ongoing program that was implemented in 1996. Although evaluation data have been collected since the program's inception, a more systematic evaluation based on community-based participatory research principles was undertaken in 2003 and 2004 with the technical assistance of the Maine-Harvard Prevention Research Center and Colby College.


METHODS
The Maine-Harvard Prevention Research Center facilitated the development of a program logic model, evaluation questions, data collection instruments, an analysis plan, presentations, and reports. We used a cross-sectional study design with nonparticipant comparison groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Data indicate possible program improvement strategies and substantial improvements in lifestyle factors among participants.


CONCLUSIONS
Limitations of the evaluation include participant self-selection, cross-sectional study design, a lack of adequate resources for evaluation, and the challenges of using community-based participatory research methods. Despite these limitations, Move & Improve program staff consider the evaluation of the program a success and have learned ways to improve the program and future evaluation efforts. Overall satisfaction with the process has been nurtured through community-based participatory research methods. This approach also enabled us to meet key evaluation standards.
Polacsek
Michele
M
Maine-Harvard Prevention Research Center, Maine Center for Public Health, 12 Church St, Augusta, ME 04330, USA. mpolacsek@mcph.org
O'Brien
Liam M
LM
Lagasse
Wendie
W
Hammar
Nicole
N
D015444:Exercise; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008281:Maine; D009043:Motor Activity; D010809:Physical Fitness