title: Payer source influence on effectiveness of lifestyle medicine programs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Many chronic diseases are responsive to interventions focused on diet and physical activity. The Complete Health Improvement Program (CHIP) is an intensive, community-based lifestyle intervention that effectively treats many chronic diseases and their risk factors. This is a pilot study examining the effect of payer source for CHIP tuition on participants' outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-nine self-selected participants (73.4% female) attended 1 of 3 CHIP classes (classes 7-9) offered January through May 2013 in Athens, Ohio. Participants were categorized into 3 groups based on the source(s) of their tuition payment: self-pay, employer-pay, or scholarship. Chronic disease risk factors for each individual were assessed at the beginning and conclusion of the program.
  
  
  METHODS
  Outcome variables included percent reduction between pre- and post CHIP measures in body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, and fasting blood glucose. Results were compared between type of payer source (out of pocket vs employer and/or scholarship) and between each individual CHIP class attended.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no statistical difference in outcomes based on payer source. Those who received funding through their employer or a scholarship experienced similar effects from a lifestyle intervention program as those who paid out of pocket.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates that the benefit of CHIP for reducing chronic disease risk factors exists independent of payment source, and thus suggests its benefit may cross socioeconomic lines.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vogelgesang
authors.affiliation: 106 Parks Hall, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701. E-mail: drozek@ohio.edu.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Drozek
authors.forename: Masato
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakazawa
authors.forename: Jay H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Shubrook
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001786:Blood Glucose; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise; D005257:Fellowships and Scholarships / Q000191:economics*; D005260:Female; D005382:Financing, Personal / Q000191:economics*; D015438:Health Behavior; D006264:Health Benefit Plans, Employee / Q000191:economics*; D006266:Health Education; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D008055:Lipids