Productivity and health: an application of three perspectives to measuring productivity.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the study was to illustrate the meaningful relationship between self-reported measures of productivity and health status from three different perspectives.

METHODS

Health risk data was drawn from 577,186 individuals who completed the HealthMedia Succeed Health Risk Assessment and the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire over a span of nearly four years. Analyses were conducted for 10 modifiable health risks and five chronic conditions.

RESULTS

Productivity impairment was greater for high-risk participants for the modifiable health risks and those who had been diagnosed with a chronic condition. Improvements in health status led to significant gains in productivity. Modifiable health risks are nearly five times more costly than chronic conditions.

CONCLUSIONS

The value in a self-report measurement approach to productivity was demonstrated by illustrating the meaningful relationships between health status and productivity as measured by the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment.