title: The effectiveness of health promotion at the University of Minnesota: expenditures, absenteeism, and participation in specific programs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effectiveness of the University of Minnesota's worksite health promotion program in reducing health care expenditures during the first 2 years of the program; to investigate the program's effect on absenteeism; and to study the effect of specific disease- or lifestyle-management programs on both health care expenditures and absenteeism.
  
  
  METHODS
  Health care expenditures and absenteeism of program participants were compared with those who were eligible but did not participate. Differences-in-differences regression equations with random effects were used to account for selection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participation in the general disease management program over 2 years was associated with significant reductions in expenditures, as was participation in programs for certain specific diseases. No consistently significant absenteeism or lifestyle management effects were found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  : Although the program significantly reduced expenditures, it did not generate a positive return on investment.
authors.affiliation: Division of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455-0392, USA. nyman001@umn.edu
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Nyman
authors.forename: Nathan A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Barleen
authors.forename: Jean M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Abraham
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008910:Minnesota; D016272:Occupational Health; D009786:Occupational Health Services / Q000191:economics*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000191:economics*; D014495:Universities