Health risk appraisals: the issues surrounding use in the workplace.

1. Health risk appraisals have been used effectively to measure the likelihood of individuals developing preventable or chronic diseases over time. The components of an HRA include the questionnaire, the risk estimation, and the educational messages or reports. 2. The typical uses of HRA are for needs assessment, health education, and gate-keeping/incentive programs. 3. To select the best HRA for a particular setting, obtain support from management and develop clear program objectives. The HRA has some limits, but careful planning can decrease these problems. 4. The occupational health nurse's role can include: eliciting support from management, developing objectives to achieve a comprehensive health promotion program, coordinating the program's operational aspects, generating and analyzing data, and educating clients.