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Hindi Research Article
Effect of a Web-based Health Risk Assessment with Tailored Feedback on Lifestyle among Voluntary Participating Employees: A Long-term Followup Study
Ersen B Colkesen1,2*, Eva K Laan1,2, Jan GP Tijssen1, Roderik A Kraaijenhagen2, Coenraad K van Kalken2 and Ron JG Peters1
1Department of Cardiology, Academic Medical Center - University of Amsterdam, P.O. Box 22660, 1100 DD, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2NDDO Institute for Prevention and Early Diagnostics (NIPED), Amsteldijk 194, 1079 LK Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- *Corresponding Author:
- Ersen B Colkesen
Department of Cardiology
Academic Medical Center - University of Amsterdam
P.O. Box 22660, 1100 DD
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
E-mail: b.e.colkesen@amc.uva.nl
Received date March 23, 2013; Accepted date: April 15, 2013; Published date: April 18, 2013
Citation: Colkesen EB, Laan EK, Tijssen JGP, Kraaijenhagen RA, van Kalken CK, et al. (2013) Effect of a Web-based Health Risk Assessment with Tailored Feedback on Lifestyle among Voluntary Participating Employees: A Long-term Follow-up Study. J Community Med Health Educ 3:204. doi:10.4172/2161-0711.1000204
Copyright: © 2013 Colkesen EB, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Abstract
Background: Primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) by means of web-based Health Risk Assessment (HRA) with tailored feedback for individual health promotion is promising. We evaluated the effects on lifestyle of such a HRA program among employees of a Dutch worksite. Methods: We conducted a prospective follow-up study among employees who voluntarily participated in a webbased HRA including tailored feedback, offered to them by their employer. The program includes a multi-component HRA through a web-based electronic questionnaire, biometrics and laboratory evaluation. Results are combined with health behavior change theory to generate tailored motivating and educating health recommendations. Upon request, a health counseling session with the program physician is available. Follow-up data on lifestyle were collected one year after initial participation. Primary outcomes were the changes relative to baseline in proportions meeting recommendations for physical activity, fruit and vegetable intake, smoking and alcohol consumption. We checked for a possible background effect of an increased health consciousness as a consequence of program introduction at the worksite by comparing baseline measurements of early program participants with baseline measurements of participants who completed the program a year later. Results: A total of 142 employees completed follow-up measurements after mean 15 months. The proportion with a total physical activity amount of ≥ 150 minutes/week increased from 46% to 71% (p<0.001). The proportion with a physical activity pattern according to local recommendation (at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity on at least five days a week) was not increased. No differences were found in the proportions meeting recommendations for daily intake of fruit and vegetables, of moderate alcohol consumption, and smoking cessation. Changes were not explained by additional health counseling or increased health consciousness within the company. Conclusions: Among employees who voluntarily participated in a web-based HRA with tailored feedback the proportion with a total physical activity of ≥ 150 minutes/week increased by 25%. Web-based HRA programs with tailored feedback could help employers to enhance employee physical activity.
