title: Worksite health and wellness programs: Canadian achievements & prospects.
abstract: Canada has experienced a substantial reduction in mortality related to cardiovascular disease (CVD). There is a general consensus that more effective and widespread health promotion interventions may lead to further reductions in CVD risk factors and actual disease states. In this paper, we briefly outline the prevalence of selected risk factors for CVD in Canada, describe characteristics of the Canadian labor market and workforce, and depict what is known about health and wellness program delivery systems in Canadian workplaces. Our review indicates that there have been numerous and diverse relevant legislative and policy initiatives to create a context conducive to improve the healthfulness of Canadian workplaces. However, there is still a dearth of evidence on the effectiveness of the delivery system and the actual impact of workplace health and wellness programs in reducing CVD risk in Canada. Thus, while a promising model, more research is needed in this area.
authors.affiliation: Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec, Québec, QC, Canada; Department of Kinesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada. Electronic address: jean-pierre.despres@criucpq.ulaval.ca.
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Després
authors.affiliation: Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec, Québec, QC, Canada; Department of Kinesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Alméras
authors.affiliation: Centre de recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada; Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Lise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gauvin
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D004649:Employee Incentive Plans; D006291:Health Policy; D006293:Health Promotion; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health; D009313:National Health Programs; D016272:Occupational Health; D009786:Occupational Health Services / Q000379:methods*; D015995:Prevalence; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000379:methods*; D011379:Prognosis; D016730:Program Development; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D017132:Workplace
keywords: Interventions; Obesity; Physical activity; Risk factors; Smoking; Workplace