Implementation and Evaluation of a Workplace Pervasive Program of Health Guidance for Lifestyle Diseases Prevention

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to implement Pervasive Program of Health Guidance for Lifestyle Diseases Prevention in two companies, and to explain the effectiveness of the program.

Method: The Pervasive Program of Health Guidance for Lifestyle Diseases Prevention was developed and implemented in two companies and its effectiveness in the two companies was explained as a way of aiming to improve the health of an entire group by establishing a structure whereby participants among the group attend a health class and transfer their learning to the non-participants. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of this program, a self-administered survey was conducted with all employees to assess changes in health-related motivation and interest, changes in lifestyle behaviors, change in stages of behavior modification, and acceptance of learning related to the workshop content.

Results: Among the participants of the health workshops in each company, there were positive improvements in motivation and interest, with over 70% of participants responding that they “increased their new health-related knowledge”, and “became interested in health”. However, no significant changes were evident in lifestyle behaviors or stages of behavior modification. The percentage of health workshop non-participants replying that the health workshops had led to changes in their motivation and interest was approximately 20% in Company A, and approximately 10% in Company B. There was a clear difference in the results of the two companies with respect to whether non-participants had been shown or had heard about the learning content of the health workshops, with significantly higher results in Company A.

Discussion: It can be claimed that this program was effective to a certain degree in terms of increasing knowledge among health workshop participants, nurturing their interest, and improving their motivation, but with the small number of participants, it could only suggest the possibility of a pervasive effect of education for non-participants. Henceforward, we have research and explore factors contributing to differences in such situational health workshops.