American Association of Occupational Health Nurses Inc. Workplace Health & Wellness Survey Results
The American Association of Occupational Health Nurses recently released the results from their Health and Wellness Awareness Survey. The survey was conducted by ICR in November 2002 and included 500 telephone interviews among full time employees ages 18 years and older. The stated margin of error for this study is plus or minus 4.4 percent.
The findings indicated that 60% of respondents consider health and wellness program offerings from employers a viable incentive to stay at their current job. Healthcare professional are still the most trusted sources for employee wellness program information about 61%. Pamphlets and brochures are still viable information source as 18% of the responders stated. One of the top reasons why people indicated that they do not participate in their company's wellness program because they prefer to obtain health information from a more credible source i.e. someone in the health industry. Men felt this way more often than women when commenting on the need for the source to be credible.
It was found that both men and women participate equally in wellness programs. Age played more of a factor in the participation in these programs 18-34 age group was less likely to participate than someone in the 35-44 age group. Overall three-quarters of the respondents would take advantage of an employee wellness program if it was readily available. Nearly 80 percent of the respondents felt that their health would improve if they participated in the health/wellness program.
Work related health concerns were as follow:
15% Stress at Work
11% Muscle strains/injuries
10% Exposure to Harmful Substances
5% Personal Injury
3% Deteriorating vision due to computers
3% Workplace violence
Programs within the health and wellness program that rated the highest were:
85% Stress Management
84% Fitness
84% Screening programs
81% Health Insurance education
80% Disease Management Seminars
71% Nutrition Seminars
67% Stop Smoking Seminars
Now more than ever we need to work together to solve the problems within our workforce. Reducing stress and concern for their health through education and screening is a very important factor of this problem. "Companies today need to do what is necessary to survive and demonstrating a commitment to employee welfare, this is one important way to maintain trust and loyalty,"said Deborah V. DiBenedetto, the president of AAOHN. "Today's employees are clearly dealing with a lot of pressures such as the effects of 9/11, an unstable economy, national security threat and work/balance issues. There is a real opportunity for employees to serve as an ally to their employees by providing them with resources to better manage their physical and emotional health – anything from stress management seminars to nutrition and exercise counseling." To learn more about this survey or the AAOHN call: 800-241-8014 x 105 or go to:
http://www.aaohn.org/press_room/releases/index.cfm
