Effectiveness of an Incentive-Based Online Physical Activity Intervention on Employee Health Status

Objective: The objective of this study was to test whether a financial incentive integrated with health benefits for an online physical activity program was associated with increased employee participation and improved health status among participants compared with nonparticipants. Methods: Particip...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of occupational and environmental medicine 2006-09, Vol.48 (9), p.889-895
Main Authors: Herman, Christopher W., Musich, Shirley, Lu, Chifung, Sill, Stewart, Young, Joyce M., Edington, Dee W.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Biological and medical sciences
Effectiveness studies
Exercise
Female
Health Status
Humans
Legislation. Organization
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Monetary incentives
Occupational health
Occupational Health Services - economics
Occupational Health Services - organization & administration
Occupational Health Services - statistics & numerical data
Occupational medicine
Online instruction
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Physical fitness
Program Evaluation
Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine
Reimbursement, Incentive - economics
Reimbursement, Incentive - statistics & numerical data
Wellness programs
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Summary:Objective: The objective of this study was to test whether a financial incentive integrated with health benefits for an online physical activity program was associated with increased employee participation and improved health status among participants compared with nonparticipants. Methods: Participation in the Virtual Fitness Center (VFC), an online physical activity program associated with a $150 cash rebate, was assessed. Risk status for 2004 VFC participants and nonparticipants was compared using a health risk appraisal Results: A total of 53.8% of total eligible employees were VFC participants and reduced their risk for physical inactivity (8.4% points), life dissatisfaction (2.1), low perception of health (1.9), high risk status (1.3), smoking (0.4), and high body weight (0.2). Conclusions: Providing a cash incentive is one strategy for encouraging VFC participation and eliciting improved health status in an employer-sponsored, web-based physical activity program.
ISSN:1076-2752
1536-5948
DOI:10.1097/01.jom.0000232526.27103.71