title: Change in health-related quality of life amongst participants in a 4-month pedometer-based workplace health program.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Regular physical activity (PA) is associated with a reduced risk for chronic health conditions and improved health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Efforts to increase PA have included workplace health promotion. Currently, little is known about the effect of these programs on overall HRQoL.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate whether participation in a pedometer-based PA program in the workplace was associated with changes in HRQoL.
  
  
  METHODS
  487 voluntary employees enrolled in a health program completed the SF-12 Health Survey at baseline and 4 months. Change in Physical and Mental component summary scores (PCS; MCS) was assessed with multivariable regression analysis, adjusting for covariates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participation in the program was associated with an increase of 1.5 MCS units (95% CI: 0.76, -2.09). Greater improvements in MCS were observed in those reporting an increased level of PA during the program [1.9 (CI: 0.78, 2.92) versus 0.9 (CI: -0.12, 2.03)] and a lower baseline MCS score [6.3 (CI: 4.80, 7.62) versus -1.5 (CI: -2.21, -0.80)]. No change in PCS was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Participation in this workplace PA program was associated with improvements in the mental component of HRQoL. We recommend the use of a broad perspective of health be used in both the implementation and evaluation of workplace PA programs.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Harding
authors.forename: Rosanne Laura Armida
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Freak-Poli
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Backholer
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Peeters
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D009043:Motor Activity; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D017132:Workplace / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology*