Evaluation of the implementation of Get Healthy at Work, a workplace health promotion program in New South Wales, Australia.
Issue addressed Get Healthy at Work (GHaW) is a statewide program to reduce chronic disease risk among NSW workers by helping them make small changes to modifiable lifestyle chronic disease risk factors and create workplace environments that support healthy lifestyles. It has two primary components: a workplace health program (WHP) for businesses and online or face-to-face Brief Health Checks (BHCs) for workers. In this paper, we discuss our evaluation to identify areas for improvement in the implementation of WHP and to assess the uptake of BHCs by workers. Methods Routinely collected WHP and BHC program data between July 2014 and February 2016 were analysed. A baseline online survey regarding workplace health promotion was conducted with 247 key contacts at registered GHaW worksites and a control group of 400 key contacts from a range of businesses. Seven telephone interviews were conducted with service provider key contacts. Results As at February 2016, 3133 worksites (from 1199 businesses) across NSW had registered for GHaW, of which 36.8% started the program. Similar proportions of GHaW (34.0%) and control (31.7%) businesses had existing WHPs. BHCs were completed by 12740 workers, and of those whose risks were assessed, 78.9% had moderate or high risk of diabetes and 33.6% had increased or high risk of cardiovascular disease. Approximately half (50.6%) of eligible BHC participants were referred to Get Healthy Information and Coaching Service (GHS) and 37.7% to Quitline. The uptake of face-to-face BHCs compared with online was significantly higher for males, people aged over 35 years, those undertaking less physical activity and those less likely to undertake active travel to work. Service providers suggested that the program's structured five-step pathway did not offer adequate flexibility to support worksites' progress through the program. Conclusions During the evaluation period, a substantial number of NSW worksites registered for GHaW but their progress was slow because of the limited flexibility offered by the program model. So what? Workplace-based health promotion programs have potential to reach people at risk of chronic disease, but the implementation of such programs need to be more flexible than traditional health promotion programs in terms of delivery modes and timeframes.
NSW Office of Preventive Health, Don Everett Building, Level 1, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia.
Santosh
S
Khanal
NSW Office of Preventive Health, Don Everett Building, Level 1, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia.
Beverley
B
Lloyd
NSW Office of Preventive Health, Don Everett Building, Level 1, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia.
Chris
C
Rissel
NSW Office of Preventive Health, Don Everett Building, Level 1, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia.
Claire
C
Portors
The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
Anne
A
Grunseit
The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
Devon
D
Indig
SafeWork NSW, 92-100 Donnison Street, Gosford, NSW 2250, Australia.
Ismail
I
Ibrahim
NSW Office of Preventive Health, Don Everett Building, Level 1, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia.
Sinead
S
McElduff
D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D009517:New South Wales; D009786:Occupational Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017132:Workplace