Work-site wellness programmes in Sweden: a cross-sectional study of physical activity, self-efficacy, and health.
In Sweden, a work-site wellness programme implies reimbursing some of the expenses for health-promoting activities. Although work-site wellness programmes are readily available in Sweden, a large number of employees elect not to participate.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the association of physical activity, self-reported general health assessment and self-efficacy with participation in a work-site wellness programme.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study design was used.


METHODS
An online questionnaire was distributed to employees of a manufacturing company with 2500 employees in southwest Sweden.


RESULTS
Those who took advantage of the work-site wellness programme assessed their general health as better and had higher assessment of physical activity. The study showed that being enlisted also implies a higher level of physical activity and general health; however, the effect sizes of these correlations were small. Self-efficacy, i.e. perceived behavioural control, was not associated with participation in the work-site wellness programme. However, self-efficacy was correlated with both general health assessment and physical activity. A regression analysis to determine explanatory contributions to the general health assessment score showed no significant contribution from participation in a work-site wellness programme, but was instead explained by perceived behavioural control and physical activity.


CONCLUSIONS
Given the small effect size of the difference in physical activity between participators and non-participators in the work-site wellness programme, it is probable that only a small proportion of participators changed their health-promoting activities as a result of the work-site wellness programme.
Unit of Public Health, Department of Health and Education, University of Skövde, Skövde, Sweden.
H
H
Gånedahl
Unit of Public Health, Department of Health and Education, University of Skövde, Skövde, Sweden.
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P
Zsaludek Viklund
Unit of Public Health, Department of Health and Education, University of Skövde, Skövde, Sweden.
K
K
Carlén
Unit of Public Health, Department of Health and Education, University of Skövde, Skövde, Sweden.
E
E
Kylberg
Unit for Health Analysis, Centre for Healthcare Development, County Council of Östergötland, Linköping, Sweden; Unit of Community Medicine, Department of Medicine and Health, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden. Electronic address: joakim.ekberg@liu.se.
J
J
Ekberg
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D059026:Diagnostic Self Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D009786:Occupational Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden; D017132:Workplace
Perceived behavioural control; Physical activity; Self-efficacy; Theory of planned behaviour