Division of Physiotherapy, Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Cape, South Africa.
BMC Public Health. 2013 Jan 11;13:25. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-13-25.
The prevalence of health risk behaviours is growing amongst South African employees. Health risk behaviours have been identified as a major contributor to reduced health related quality of life (HRQoL) and the increased prevalence of non-communicable diseases. Worksite wellness programmes promise to promote behaviour changes amongst employees and to improve their HRQoL. The aim of this study was to evaluate the short-term effects of an employee wellness programme on HRQoL, health behaviour change, body mass index (BMI) and absenteeism amongst clothing and textile manufacturing employees.
The study used a randomised control trial design. The sample consisted of 80 subjects from three clothing manufacturing companies in Cape Town, South Africa. The experimental group was subjected to a wellness programme based on the principles of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) as well as weekly supervised exercise classes over six weeks. The control group received a once-off health promotion talk and various educational pamphlets, with no further intervention. Measurements were recorded at baseline and at six weeks post-intervention. Outcome measures included the EQ-5D, Stanford Exercise Behaviours Scale, body mass index and absenteeism.Data was analysed with the Statistica-8 software program. Non-parametric tests were used to evaluate the differences in the medians between the two groups and to determine the level of significance. The Sign test was used to determine the within group changes. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to determine the difference between the two groups.
At six weeks post intervention the experimental group (39 subjects) demonstrated improvement in almost every parameter. In contrast, apart from an overall decrease in time off work and a reduction in BMI for all study participants, there was no significant change noted in the behaviour of the control group (41 subjects). Seventy percent of the experimental group had improved HRQoL EQ-5D VAS scores post intervention, indicating improved perceived HRQoL. In comparison, only 58% of the control group had improved HRQoL EQ-5D VAS scores post intervention. There was no significant difference between the two groups at baseline or at six weeks post intervention.
An employee wellness programme based on the principles of CBT combined with weekly aerobic exercise class was beneficial in improving the perceived HRQoL and changing health-related behaviours of clothing manufacturing employees. However, it cannot be concluded that the EWP was more effective than the once off health promotion talk as no significant changes were noted between the two groups at 6-weeks post intervention.This trial has been registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (trial registration number NCT01625039).
南非员工的健康风险行为日益普遍。健康风险行为已被确定为降低健康相关生活质量（HRQoL）和增加非传染性疾病患病率的主要因素。工作场所健康计划有望促进员工的行为改变，并提高他们的 HRQoL。本研究的目的是评估员工健康计划对 HRQoL、健康行为改变、身体质量指数（BMI）和制衣和纺织制造员工缺勤率的短期影响。
该研究采用随机对照试验设计。样本由南非开普敦的三家制衣公司的 80 名员工组成。实验组接受了基于认知行为疗法（CBT）原则的健康计划，以及六周内每周一次的监督锻炼课程。对照组接受了一次性健康促进讲座和各种教育小册子，没有进一步的干预。在基线和干预后六周记录测量结果。结果测量包括 EQ-5D、斯坦福锻炼行为量表、体重指数和缺勤率。使用 Statistica-8 软件程序分析数据。非参数检验用于评估两组中位数之间的差异和确定显著性水平。符号检验用于确定组内变化。Mann-Whitney U 检验用于确定两组之间的差异。
在干预后六周，实验组（39 名受试者）在几乎所有参数上都有所改善。相比之下，除了所有研究参与者的工作时间减少和 BMI 降低外，对照组（41 名受试者）没有观察到行为的显著变化。实验组 70%的人在干预后 HRQoL EQ-5D VAS 评分有所提高，表明他们的 HRQoL 有所改善。相比之下，对照组中只有 58%的人在干预后 HRQoL EQ-5D VAS 评分有所提高。两组在基线或干预后六周时没有显著差异。
基于 CBT 原则并结合每周有氧运动课程的员工健康计划有助于提高制衣制造员工的感知 HRQoL 和改变与健康相关的行为。然而，不能得出 EWP 比一次性健康促进讲座更有效的结论，因为两组在干预后 6 周时没有观察到显著差异。本试验已在 ClinicalTrials.gov 注册（试验注册号 NCT01625039）。
