Mindfulness Goes to Work Aikens, Kimberly A.; Astin, John; Pelletier, Kenneth R. ...
Journal of occupational and environmental medicine,
2014-July, Letnik:
56, Številka:
7
Journal Article
Recenzirano
OBJECTIVE:The objective of this study was to determine whether a mindfulness program, created for the workplace, was both practical and efficacious in decreasing employee stress while enhancing ...resiliency and well-being.
METHODS:Participants (89) recruited from The Dow Chemical Company were selected and randomly assigned to an online mindfulness intervention (n = 44) or wait-list control (n = 45). Participants completed the Perceived Stress Scale, the Five Facets of Mindfulness Questionnaire, the Connor-Davidson Resiliency Scale, and the Shirom Vigor Scale at pre- and postintervention and 6-month follow-up.
RESULTS:The results indicated that the mindfulness intervention group had significant decreases in perceived stress as well as increased mindfulness, resiliency, and vigor.
CONCLUSIONS:This online mindfulness intervention seems to be both practical and effective in decreasing employee stress, while improving resiliency, vigor, and work engagement, thereby enhancing overall employee well-being.
Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and estimate total costs for chronic health conditions in the U.S. workforce for the Dow Chemica Company (Dow). Methods: Using ...the Stanford Presenteeism Scale, information was collected from workers at five locations on work impairment and absenteeism based on self-reported "primary" chronic health conditions. Survey data were merged with employee demographics, medical and pharmaceutical claims, smoking status, biometric health risk factors, payroll records, and job type. Results: Almost 65% of respondents reported having one or more of the surveyed chronic conditions. The most common were allergies, arthritis/joint pain or stiffness, and back or neck disorders. The associated absenteeism by chronic condition ranged from 0.9 to 5.9 hours in a 4-week period, and on-the-job work impairment ranged from a 17.8% to 36.4% decrement in ability to function at work. The presence of a chronic condition was the most important determinant of the reported levels of work impairment and absence after adjusting for other factors (P < 0.000). The total cost of chronic conditions was estimated to be 10.7% of the total labor costs for Dow in the United States; 6.8% was attributable to work impairment alone. Conclusion: For all chronic conditions studied, the cost associated with performance based work loss or "presenteeism" greatly exceeded the combined costs of absenteeism and medical treatment combined.
Traditionally, health protection and health promotion activities have operated independently of each other in the workplace. Health protection has usually been viewed as encompassing the activities ...that protect workers from occupational injury and illness ranging from basic safety training to the use of protective gear, work organization, and safety-enhancing modifications. Health promotion, by contrast, has usually been viewed as encompassing the activities that maintain or improve the personal health of a workforce--ranging from health risk assessments to wellness initiatives and immunizations.
Objective: This study reports the reliability and validity of the 13-item Stanford Presenteeism Scale (SPS). The SPS differs from similar scales by focusing on knowledge-based and production-based ...workers. Methods: Data were obtained from administrative and medical claims databases and from a survey that incorporated the SPS, SF-36, and the Work Limitations Questionnaire. Results: Sixty-three percent (7797) of employees responded. Cronbach's alpha (0.83) indicates adequate reliability. Factor analysis identified two underlying factors, "completing work" and "avoiding distraction." Knowledge-based workers load on "completing work" (α = 0.97), whereas production-based workers load on "avoiding distraction" (α = 0.98). There were significant and positive relationships between the SPS, SF-36, and Work Limitations Questionnaire. Conclusions: The SPS demonstrates a high degree of reliability and validity and may be ideal for employers who seek a single scale to measure health-related productivity in a diverse employee population.
Objective: Evaluate innovative, evidence-based approaches to organizational/supportive environmental interventions aimed at reducing the prevalence of obesity among Dow employees after 2 years of ...implementation. Methods: A quasi-experimental study design compared outcomes for two levels of intervention intensity with a control group. Propensity scores were used to weight baseline differences between intervention and control subjects. Difference-in-differences methods and multilevel modeling were used to control for individual and site-level confounders. Results: Intervention participants maintained their weight and body mass index, whereas control participants gained 1.3 pounds and increased their body mass index values by 0.2 over 2 years. Significant differences in blood pressure and cholesterol values were observed when comparing intervention employees with controls. At higher intensity sites, improvements were more pronounced. Conclusions: Environmental interventions at the workplace can support weight management and risk reduction after 2 years.
Objective: To examine first-year results from a workplace environmental obesity prevention program at The Dow Chemical Company. Methods: A quasi-expenmental cohort study was conducted among employees ...at nine treatment worksites (n = 8013) who received environmental weight management interventions and three control worksites (n = 2269). Changes in employees' weight, body mass index (BMI), and other health risks were examined using X² and t-tests. Results: After 1 year, a modest treatment effect was observed for weight and BMI largely because the control group subjects gained weight; however, no effect was observed for overweight and obesity prevalence. Other nsk factors (tobacco use, high blood pressure, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure values) decreased significantly, although blood glucose (high nsk prevalence and values) increased. Conclusions: Environmental changes to the workplace can achieve modest improvements in employees' health nsL·, including weight and BMI measures, in 1 year.
Objective: This paper presents the formative research phase of a large multi‐site intervention study conducted to inform the feasibility of introducing environmental and ecological interventions.
...Research Methods and Procedures: Using mixed methods that included an environmental assessment, climate survey, leadership focus groups and interviews, and archival data, information was collected on employee health and job factors, the physical environment, social‐organizational environment, and current health programs.
Results: Results show that 83% of employees at the study sites were overweight or obese. Leadership was very supportive of health initiatives and felt integrating the strategies into organizational operations would increase their likelihood of success. Environmental assessment scores ranged from 47 to 19 on a 100‐point scale. Health services personnel tended to view the organizational climate for health more positively than site leadership (mean of 3.6 vs. 3.0, respectively).
Discussion: Intervention strategies chosen included increasing healthy food choices in vending, cafeterias, and company meetings, providing a walking path, targeting messages, developing site goals, training leaders, and establishing leaders at the work group level.
Objective: We sought to estimate the impact of corporate health-management and risk-reduction programs for The Dow Chemical Company by using a prospective return-on-investment (ROI) model. Methods: ...The risk and expenditure estimates were derived from multiple regression analyses showing relationships between worker demographics, health risks, and medical expenditures. Results: A "break-even" scenario would require Dow to reduce each of 10 population health risks by 0.17% points per year over the course of 10 years. More successful efforts at reducing health risks in the population would produce a more significant ROI for the company. Conclusions: Findings from this study were incorporated into other components of a business case for health and productivity management, and these supported continued investments in health improvement programs designed to achieve risk reduction and cost savings.
A Wake-Up Call for Corporate America Whitmer, R. William; Pelletier, Kenneth R.; Anderson, David R. ...
Journal of occupational and environmental medicine,
09/2003, Letnik:
45, Številka:
9
Journal Article
Recenzirano
The opinion that today's health care system cannot survive without fundamental changes is growing with a number of first-time and recurring events converging that have the potential to accelerate ...medical expenditures beyond what employers, employees, and governments are willing and able to pay including the aging work force, rising hospital costs, and rising obesity. However, when corporations, health care plans, governments, and employees collectively embrace the concept and get serious about the provision, acceptance and utilization of health enhancement and disease prevention programs, it will be a quantum leap forward in resolving the health care cost dilemma. A new approach will develop with the potential to optimize health, reduce illness, absenteeism, lower use, moderate cost increases, and enhance productivity.