This blog post is part 4 in a series exploring the use of an HRA in developing a health intervention plan using research from Wellsource student intern Kori Pitt. In this example program, Kori outlines an example workplace obesity intervention program called the Triple W Challenge. Catch up on the series:
Once intervention planning is finished, it is time to put the plan into action. This step comes after pilot testing and planning is over and the intervention is ready for implementation on a larger scale.
Employee involvement during all stages of program implementation is the most effective strategy for changing behavior and culture. Promote employee participation by engaging them to contribute to program design and implementation. Workplaces vary in size, design, location, health experience, and resources. Employees will also vary in characteristics from age, mental abilities, resiliency, education, and cultural background. A successful workplace intervention will take into consideration the various needs of both the employees and the organization. One size does not fit all, and flexibility is key for effective program implementation.
The HRA provides the initial point of contact for recruitment for the Triple W Challenge. The feedback from the HRA allows individuals to reflect on their own health choices and can motivate them to want to change. Flyers and announcements at company meetings are other ways to market the program. Below is an outline of the various components that will be included in the Triple W Challenge:
Community-level outreach: Three 1-hour long sessions will be held in a break/conference room for participants during lunch/break hours. These sessions include 15 minutes of mindfulness training at the beginning, 15 minutes of nutrition education, and 30 minutes of physical activity at the end. The sessions will be led by trained dietitians, mindfulness teachers, and personal trainers.
Environmental-level outreach: To create or enhance a culture of health within the organization, messaging will be delivered company-wide, in addition to messaging and training delivered specifically to the targeted population.
Individual-level outreach: As a technology-supported intervention, the Triple W Challenge also offers severely obese participants the option to opt into a text system that is self-monitoring for behavior change goals. The text messages emphasize ways the participants can modify their behaviors to lose weight, eat better, and relieve stress. The text messages will have a positive, uplifting tone and will suggest ways to adopt a healthy behavior or overcome a perceived barrier.
Short Term: Change in Knowledge and Attitudes
Medium Term: Change in Behaviors
Long Term: Change in Prevalence
In next week's final installment of this series, we will explore the next step in the process: monitoring and evaluating the program. |
Meet Kori Pitt, MPH
Kori's internship at Wellsource involved performing research on lifestyle behaviors affecting obesity in working females. She performed statistical analyses on health risk assessment data and created an evidence-based workplace intervention framework for obesity. Kori is passionate about chronic disease education and prevention and bridging the gap between public health research and practice.