180168 Salient beliefs underlying willingness to participate in worksite wellness programs among rural employees

Monday, October 27, 2008

Julia Ann Swanson, MS , Applied Health Science, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Susan E. Middlestadt, PhD , Department of Applied Health Science, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Chunyun Wang, PhD Candidate , Applied Health Science, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Sally J. Pelto-Wheeler, MPH , Applied Health Science, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Jylana L. Sheats, MPH, Phd(c) , Applied Health Science, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Laurel Dolin Stevenson, PhD, MPH , Department of Applied Health Science, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Margaret R. Sullivan, MPH(c), RN, CHES , Applied Health Science, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Kavita Nana , Applied Health Science, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Alireza Geshnizjani, MPHc , Department of Applied Health Science, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Purpose: The Theory of Planned Behavior argues that salient beliefs are important determinants in predicting behavior. The purpose of the study was to identify salient beliefs associated with the behavior of “participating in a worksite wellness program in the next twelve months” among employees of a large, rural Mid-western university. Method: 279 male and female employees from a service division within the worksite were administered a survey of six open-ended questions as part of a larger survey. The questions were designed to elicit perceived consequences, social referents, and circumstances of participation in a worksite wellness program. Study participants were primarily White (83%), the mean age was 46.37 (SD=10.4) years, and 74% performed blue-collar work. Categories of verbatim text were created by conducting a content analysis; and a frequency analysis was performed to identify frequently mentioned salient beliefs. Results: Results reveal that advantages of participation were “will improve overall health,” “will help lose weight,” and “will feel better.” Frequently mentioned disadvantages were “may not have time,” and “have no disadvantages.” Approving referents that were frequently mentioned included “family members,” “supervisors,” and “co-workers,” while disapproving referents included “nobody” and “supervisors.” “If programs were offered during work hours” and “not enough time,” were frequently mentioned circumstances that made it easier or difficult to participate, respectively. Implications: Results imply that rural employees may be more inclined to participate in a worksite wellness program if there are personal health benefits and if program support is communicated within the worksite through managerial staff and worksite policies.

Learning Objectives:
The participant will be able to: Identify three frequently mentioned consequences, social referents, and circumstances of participation in a worksite wellness program. Gain a better understanding of institutional and administrative factors that may influence employee satisfaction and participation in a worksite wellness program. Illustrate the use of the Theory of Planned Behavior as an effective framework in identifying factors that contribute to worksite wellness program participation.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I contributed to the data gathering, coding, and analysis. As well as contributing to the literature review in the paper as well a writing of the abstract
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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