Employee health fair data: evidence for planning health promotion programs.
OBJECTIVE
This study describes actual and perceived health status as well as health habits and needs of hospital employees. The Transtheoretical Model "stages of change" provided the study framework. SETTING, SAMPLE, AND METHODS: Employees (N = 1,295) from a large Midwestern hospital participated in 3 annual health fairs and completed questionnaires and received physical measurements of height, weight, blood pressure, and blood lipid levels.


RESULTS
During the 3-year period, 56% of individuals met body mass indices indicating overweight and obese status, 74% of the employees reported feeling overweight and desired to lose an average of 32 lb per individual, 51% of employees wanted to increase their daily physical activity levels, and 75% of participants stated they were already preparing for or taking action to change unhealthy behaviors.


CONCLUSIONS
As a result of the health fair data, hospital-based clinical nurse specialists are currently piloting interventions geared specifically toward enhancing weight control and increasing exercise in hospital employees.
Wynd
Christine A
CA
The Breen School of Nursing, Ursuline College, Pepper Pike, Ohio 44124, USA. cwyn@ursuline.edu
Cihlar
Claudia
C
Graor
Christine Heifner
CH
Imani
Julie
J
McDougal
Myrna
M
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003625:Data Collection; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006277:Health Fairs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015146:Midwestern United States; D008960:Models, Psychological; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009720:Nurse Clinicians / Q000458:organization & administration; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009785:Occupational Health Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D009786:Occupational Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D010934:Planning Techniques; D016730:Program Development; D012044:Regression Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires