title: The SHIELD (Safety & Health Improvement: Enhancing Law Enforcement Departments) Study: Mixed Methods Longitudinal Findings.
abstract: The SHIELD (Safety & Health Improvement: Enhancing Law Enforcement Departments) Study is a worksite wellness team-based intervention among police and sheriff departments assessing the program's effectiveness to reduce occupational risks and unhealthy lifestyle behaviors. The SHIELD program focused on improving diet, physical activity, body weight and sleep, and reducing the effects of unhealthy stress and behaviors, such as tobacco and substance abuse. The SHIELD team-based health promotion program was found to be feasible and effective at 6 months in improving diet, sleep, stress, and overall quality of life of law enforcement department personnel. Both intervention and control groups were followed for 24 months, and we report those durability findings, along with qualitative group interview results that provide insight into the changes of the long-term outcomes. Long-term effects were observed for consumption of fruits and vegetables, and there was some evidence for effects on tobacco and alcohol use. Assessment of dietary habits, physical activity behaviors, weight loss maintenance, and substance use is rare more than 1 year following an intervention, and in general, initial positive changes do not persist in prior research. The SHIELD program was feasible, effective, and durable for improving dietary changes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine (Dr Kuehl, Dr Elliot, Ms DeFrancesco, Ms Sleigh, Dr Garg, Ms McGinnis, and Ms Kuehl), Oregon Health & Science University, Portland; and Department of Psychology (Dr MacKinnon, Ms O'Rourke, Ms Miočević, and Mr Valente), Arizona State University, Tempe.
authors.forename: Kerry S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Kuehl
authors.forename: Diane L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Elliot
authors.forename: David P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: MacKinnon
authors.forename: Holly P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: O'Rourke
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: DeFrancesco
authors.forename: Milica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miočević
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valente
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sleigh
authors.forename: Bharti
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Garg
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: McGinnis
authors.forename: Hannah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kuehl
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009786:Occupational Health Services; D009922:Oregon; D016495:Police; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011788:Quality of Life; D012890:Sleep; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control; D064424:Tobacco Use; D014861:Washington