Workplace wellness programs have become a $6 billion industry and are widely touted as a way to improve employee well-being, reduce health care costs by promoting prevention, and increase workplace productivity. Yet, there is little rigorous evidence available to support these claims, partly because the voluntary nature of these programs means that participants may differ from nonparticipants for reasons unrelated to the causal effects of the wellness program. The investigators will implement a randomized control trial to identify the effects of incentives on wellness program participation, produce causal estimates of the effect of wellness programs on health outcomes, determine what kinds of employees benefit from wellness programs the most, and test for the presence of peer effects in wellness participation.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
4,834
Treatment group members will then be offered the opportunity to participate in a biometric screening and health risk assessment (biometric screening + HRA), and -- conditional on completing an biometric screening + HRA -- up to two, semester-long wellness programs. Treatment group members will be offered varying levels of cash reward for completing the biometric screening + HRA (none, moderate, high), and an additional cash reward for completing each wellness activity (low, high), for a total of 6 treatment cells. Follow-up surveys and biometric screenings will be administered one year later, among a subset of control and treatment group members.
The biometric test will measure: (1) anthropometrics such as height, weight, and waist circumference (to assess obesity and overweight status); (2) resting blood pressure (to assess hypertension); (3) blood glucose (to assess diabetes risk); and (4) total, LDL, and HDL cholesterol levels, total cholesterol ratio, and triglycerides (to assess risk of cardiovascular disease). The HRA is a survey designed to identify areas of health improvement, by asking a series of questions related to wellness, health status, nutrition, healthy activities, desire to improve health, preventative health measures. The HRA is also pre-populated with biometric information from the screening. Upon completion, participants are given customized feedback on areas of improvement. No compensation for completion.
The biometric test will measure: (1) anthropometrics such as height, weight, \& waist circumference (to assess obesity and overweight status); (2) resting blood pressure (to assess hypertension); (3) blood glucose (to assess diabetes risk); \& (4) total, LDL, and HDL cholesterol levels, total cholesterol ratio, and triglycerides (to assess risk of cardiovascular disease). The HRA is a survey designed to identify areas of health improvement, by asking a series of questions related to wellness, health status, nutrition, healthy activities, desire to improve health, preventative health measures. The HRA is also pre-populated with biometric information from the screening. Upon completion, participants are given customized feedback on areas of improvement. Moderate compensation for completion.
The biometric test will measure: (1) anthropometrics such as height, weight, and waist circumference (to assess obesity and overweight status); (2) resting blood pressure (to assess hypertension); (3) blood glucose (to assess diabetes risk); and (4) total, LDL, and HDL cholesterol levels, total cholesterol ratio, and triglycerides (to assess risk of cardiovascular disease). The HRA is a survey designed to identify areas of health improvement, by asking a series of questions related to wellness, health status, nutrition, healthy activities, desire to improve health, preventative health measures. The HRA is also pre-populated with biometric information from the screening. Upon completion, participants are given customized feedback on areas of improvement. High compensation for completion.
Courses are designed by the UI Wellness Center and include an Active Living class; self-paced online health challenges in physical activity, weight management, and healthy eating; a weight management class; a tobacco cessation hotline; a stress management class; a Tai Chi class; and a chronic disease management class. Low compensation for each class.
Courses are designed by the UI Wellness Center and include an Active Living class; self-paced online health challenges in physical activity, weight management, and healthy eating; a weight management class; a tobacco cessation hotline; a stress management class; a Tai Chi class; and a chronic disease management class. High compensation for each class.
University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Wellness Program participation
Completion of biometric screening, HRA, wellness activities
Time frame: First year of study
Wellness Program participation
Completion of biometric screening, HRA, wellness activities
Time frame: Second year of study
Selection into treatment by baseline health spending
The investigators will compare the average observable characteristics of participants, relative to treatment non-participants. Average monthly spending prior to the intervention is measured via administrative health claims data.
Time frame: 13 months prior to study
Selection into treatment by self-reported health
The investigators will compare the average observable characteristics of participants, relative to treatment non-participants. Self-reported health is measured as excellent, good, average, or poor.
Time frame: Baseline measure
Selection into treatment by gender
The investigators will compare the average observable characteristics of participants, relative to treatment non-participants. Gender is measured in administrative HR records.
Time frame: Baseline measure
Selection into treatment by Age
The investigators will compare the average observable characteristics of participants, relative to treatment non-participants. Age is grouped into three categories: younger than 37, age 37 to 49, age 50 or higher.
Time frame: Baseline measure
Selection into treatment by race
The investigators will compare the average observable characteristics of participants, relative to treatment non-participants. Race is measure via administrative HR records, as white or nonwhite.
Time frame: Baseline measure
Selection into treatment by salary quartile
The investigators will compare the average observable characteristics of participants, relative to treatment non-participants. Salary, measured by administrative HR records, is coded into 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th quartile.
Time frame: Baseline measure
Selection into treatment by self-reported health utilization
The investigators will compare the average observable characteristics of participants, relative to treatment non-participants. Health care utilization is measured by survey, with yes/no variable for: ever having been screened, prescription drug use, physician/ER visit in prior year, hospital visit in the past year.
Time frame: Baseline measure
Selection into treatment by smoking status
The investigators will compare the average observable characteristics of participants, relative to treatment non-participants. Smoking status is measured via survey, with yes/no variables for: current smoker of cigarettes, current smoker of other product, former smoker, never smoker.
Time frame: Baseline measure
Selection into treatment by chronic condition
The investigators will compare the average observable characteristics of participants, relative to treatment non-participants. Chronic condition is measured via baseline survey, and coded as a yes/no variable.
Time frame: Baseline measure
Health Insurance Spending
Spending as measured in health insurance claims data
Time frame: 12 months and 24-30 months following study
Employment and Productivity
Promotion, job termination, sick leave, attitude toward management, index of these variables
Time frame: 12 months and 24-30 months following study
Health Status and Behaviors
Marathon participation, gym visits, health screening
Time frame: 12 months and 24-30 months following study
Height
Biometric health measures collected one year after study. Height is measured in feet and inches.
Time frame: 1 year following study, 2 years following study
Weight
Biometric health measures collected one year after study. Weight is measured in pounds and ounces.
Time frame: 1 year following study, 2 years following study
Waist circumference
Biometric health measures collected one year after study. Circumference is measured in inches.
Time frame: 1 year following study, 2 years following study
Resting blood pressure
Biometric health measures collected one year after study. Blood pressure is measured in mm Hg.
Time frame: 1 year following study, 2 years following study
Blood glucose
Biometric health measures collected one year after study. Blood glucose is measured in mg/dL.
Time frame: 1 year following study, 2 years following study
Cholesterol levels
Biometric health measures collected one year after study. Cholesterol is measured mg/dL. We measure lipids: LDL, HDL, and triglycerides.
Time frame: 1 year following study, 2 years following study
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