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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Alan Bekelman, Thomas R. Vischi, MCP, and Carolyn Lorente, PhD. Development Services Group, Inc., 7315 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 800-E, Bethesda, MD 20814, 301-951-0056, TVischi@dsgonline.com

Background: GetFit was adapted from a website developed by Robert Matano's 3-year SAMHSA Workplace Managed Care grant program. Matano's study found the website to be effective in increasing the number of people who contact their EAP and reducing the stigma associated with seeking assistance from an EAP. The program was an effective intervention for reducing alcohol consumption in moderate and high risk drinkers. The website was further enhanced with research findings from SAMHSA's National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP) and the findings of Snow, Heidrich and Cook, which supported the addition of health and wellness information. Embedding substance abuse prevention messages in the larger context of health and wellness is theorized to lead to greater use and familiarity with the website for employees and their families. The newest iteration of GetFit includes updating it for use with increasingly multi-generational workplaces.

Objective: To evaluate the enhanced GetFit's use in workplaces across the United States. To evaluate GetFit as a tool for prevention, screening, and help-seeking behavior.

Methods: Use of focus groups, survey data and web-trend analysis across the broad spectrum of Get Fit users.

Results: Forthcoming

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will learn about the effectiveness of an interactive health communication website in aiding in substance abuse prevention and early intervention efforts in the workplace.

Keywords: Workforce, Communication Technology

Related Web page: www.getfit.samhsa.gov

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No