Applied Materials                            Critique

The Applied Wellness Program was started in 1988 to enhance worker performance and productivity by improvement in health.  The strategy is to provide the tools necessary for participants to develop their own personal wellness program.  The wide array of programs offered are either directed at heightening awareness of basic health practices, facilitating behavior change and supporting a healthy culture, or are programs driven by specific business needs.  Core programs include health appraisals, nutrition/weight control, physical fitness, stress management, and programs for special populations including pre-natal and smoking cessation.  The program has high customer satisfaction and has won awards including the Welcoa Workplace Gold award, The Business and Industry award, and others.

SPECIFIC COMMENTS INCLUDED:

The program has a “take responsibility” focus, and includes spouses and targets high-risk individuals.  The program is broad in terms of offerings.  It has a good track record over ten years.  There is a wide variety of programs provided at different sites.  Policy and environmental supports for health behavior are included.  The program integrates health plans, sick leave, disability management, and EAP use. There is a good break out of data showing somewhat of a dose response effect.  There is strong institutional commitment.  This is a solid, “broad-brush” program which includes essentially all listed interventions.

RESERVATIONS INCLUDED:

The participant/non-participant design is not strong and more confounders could have been adjusted for.  Data do not make the results directly attributable to health promotion efforts.  Response based on the employee satisfaction survey were on only 35% of individuals.  Some of the intervention programs appear to be of a pilot nature.  No pre-program based baselines were evaluated.  The strongest data comes from the last two years of the program.