Abstract
Abbreviations and Acronyms:
AHA (American Heart Association), CR (cardiac rehabilitation), CV (cardiovascular), CVD (cardiovascular disease), HRA (health risk assessment), NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health), ROI (return on investment)- ▪Cardiovascular disease continues to be a major health concern on a global scale.
- ▪Worksite health and wellness programs provide the opportunity to identify and provide interventions to reduce modifiable cardiovascular risk factors in a larger portion of the population.
- ▪Several investigations have demonstrated that worksite health and wellness programs are effective in reducing modifiable cardiovascular risk factors. Even so, optimal program delivery models have yet to be elucidated, warranting additional research in this area.
- ▪The body of evidence for return on investment (ROI) for worksite health and wellness programs is compelling. However, there is a high degree of variability to which ROI is analyzed and reported. Future research is needed to better define worksite health and wellness ROI.
- ▪Strong senior leadership support, a visible healthy worksite culture/environment, program flexibility to adapt to changing needs of employees, utilization of technology, and support from community health programs are essential to the success of worksite health and wellness.
- Balady G.J.
- Williams M.A.
- Ades P.A.
- et al.
- Leon A.S.
- Franklin B.A.
- Costa F.
- et al.
US Department of Health and Human Services. The health care law and you. http://www.healthcare.gov/law. Accessed February 20, 2013.
Current State of Evidence Supporting Worksite Health and Wellness Programs: Focus on Return on Investment
Area of financial analysis | Reporting variability |
---|---|
Health care cost reductions | High variability in reporting |
Absenteeism reductions | High variability in reporting |
Presenteeism reductions | High variability in reporting |
Essential Components of Worksite Health and Wellness Programs Focused on Monitoring and Reducing CV Risk Profiles

Personnel Considerations
Screening and Early Detection
Physical Activity
Smoking Cessation
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Office on Smoking and Health. Fact sheet: health effects of cigarette smoking. http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/health_effects/effects_cig_smoking. Accessed November 24, 2012.
Office on Smoking and Health (US). The health consequences of involuntary exposure to tobacco smoke: a report of the Surgeon General. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK44324. Accessed November 24, 2012.
American Cancer Society. Strategies for promoting and implementing a smoke-free workplace. http://www.cancer.org/downloads/gahc/hp_strategies_for_promoting_and_implementing_smokefree_workplace.pdf. Accessed September 25, 2012.
Stress Management/Reduction
- Landsbergis P.A.
- Theorell T.
Nutrition and Weight Management
- Pearson T.A.
- Bazzarre T.L.
- Daniels S.R.
- et al.
Changes in the Work Environment
- Pearson T.A.
- Bazzarre T.L.
- Daniels S.R.
- et al.
Models for Worksite Health and Wellness Programs Focused on CV Risk Reduction
Health and Wellness Culture

Key Program Elements
- Thomas R.J.
- King M.
- Lui K.
- Oldridge N.
- Pina I.L.
- Spertus J.
Program Models: The Value of Strategic Partnering
Topic | Resource |
---|---|
CVD risk assessment | http://mylifecheck.heart.org |
Tobacco-free workplace | http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpao/hwi/toolkits/tobacco/index.htm |
Beginning an exercise program | http://exerciseismedicine.org/index.htm |
Hypertension control: diet | http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/hbp/dash/new_dash.pdf |
Cholesterol control: diet | http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/cgi-bin/chd/step2intro.cgi |
Diabetes management | http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/treatment-and-care/247.html?loc=contentpage-promo-247 |
Weight loss | http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/losing_weight/getting_started.html |
Organization | Acronym |
---|---|
International and national organizations | |
The Health Enhancement Research Organization | HERO |
Institute for Health Productivity and Management | IHPM |
International Association of Worksite Health Promotion | IAWHP |
National Business Group on Health | NBGH |
National Business Coalition on Health | NBCH |
Society for Behavioral Medicine | SBM |
World Health Organization | WHO |
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention | CDC |
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health | NIOSH |
National Institutes of Health | NIH |
American Hospital Association | |
American Heart Association | AHA |
American Lung Association | ALA |
Professional organizations | |
American College of Sports Medicine | ACSM |
American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation | AACVPR |
American Occupational Therapy Association | AOTA |
American Physical Therapy Association | APTA |
American College of Cardiology | ACC |
American College of Chest Physicians | ACCP |
American Nurses Association | ANA |
American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine | ACOEM |
European Association for Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation | EACPR |
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Total worker health. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/TWH/resources.html. Accessed November 24, 2012.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Total worker health. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/TWH/resources.html. Accessed November 24, 2012.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Total worker health. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/TWH/resources.html. Accessed November 24, 2012.
The Worksite Health and Wellness Committee: Key Organizational and Administrative Considerations
The Health Enhancement Research Organization. About HERO. http://www.the-hero.org/about/about_hero.htm. Accessed February 19, 2013.
Mission statement | To create a community engaged in supporting personal wellness and a healthy, balanced lifestyle with a particular focus on cardiovascular health. |
Vision statement | To provide integrated programs and resources that promote quality of life and foster a culture of cardiovascular health, well-being, and balance. |
Conclusion
Supplemental Online Material
- Supplemental Figure
- Video 1
References
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Article Info
Footnotes
For editorial comment, see page 533.
Dr Arena is now affiliated with the Department of Physical Therapy, College of Applied Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago.