1. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
Integration of a Nutrition Blog into a Hosptial’s Employee Wellness Program
Rebecca L. Scofield, MS
with Rosanne Leibhart, MS, RD, CNSC and Lisa DeHaven, MS, RD, LDN
Underwood-Memorial Hospital, ARAMARK Dietetic Internship
ABSTRACT
RESULTS
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS
RESEARCH QUESTION
Employee wellness programs and internet communications are two emerging trends seen in the fields of health and dietetics. This study investigated the combination of these two ideas by introducing a nutrition blog in an employee wellness program. The purpose of the research was to determine if the blog would increase awareness and participation in the wellness program and influence healthy nutrition-related behaviors among employees. A 5-part blog series was developed and posted biweekly from January through March, All employees were able to access the public website, and points were assigned to participants for responding to the blog. Blog statistics obtained from the hosting website and a post-survey were used to measure the blog’s impact. Over the course of three months, the blog website was viewed 144 times. Results indicated that 50% of individuals who participated in the blog were new to the wellness program, and 60% of survey respondents who were new to the program stated that the blog was their first activity in the wellness program, representing an increase in participation and awareness, respectively. Additionally, 85.7% of all survey participants stated that the blog increased their overall participation in the wellness program. Influence of the blog on employees’ behaviors was measured, and 90% of participants were extremely or very likely to incorporate the information they learned in making healthy choices. In summary, the introduction of a nutrition blog increased awareness, participation, and healthy behaviors of participants in an employee wellness program. This study demonstrated the ability to incorporate the emerging trends of a blog with a wellness program to improve employees’ health and nutrition knowledge and reduce costs.
Increased Awareness:
Majority of employees who were new to the wellness program stated the blog was their first activity
75.8% said the blog introduced them to wellness program activities they were previously unaware of
Increased Participation:
Half of those who responded to the blog did not participate in the 2011 wellness program, indicating the blog recruited new participants
89.7% strongly or somewhat agreed that the blog increased their overall participation in the program
Incorporate Healthy Behaviors
Majority of participants claimed the blog enhanced their nutrition knowledge
88.5% are extremely or very likely to use information learned to incorporate healthy behaviors in their lives
Conclusion
The blog provides reliable, easily accessible nutrition information to large audiences
With a free blog as part of a wellness program, employers can reduce healthcare expenses with no risk
Due to the blog’s success, it will continue at U-MH under direction of the Clinical Nutrition Manager
The purpose of this research was to determine if an online nutrition blog at Underwood-Memorial Hospital (U-MH) would increase awareness and participation in the employee wellness program and influence healthy behaviors among participants.
METHODS
Participants:
All U-MH employees have access to the blog
Employees receive cash incentives from wellness program if they receive health benefits through U-MH
36 Employees completed Wellness Passport in 2011
8 individual respondents to blog posts, 25 completed post-survey
Resources:
No monetary cost due to free blog hosting and survey sites and free marketing in the form of a link to blog site created on hospitals’ intranet home page
Time and knowledge from dietetic intern, Project Coordinators, Clinical Nutrition Manager, and VP of Human Resources
Blog Implementation:
5 biweekly posts from January to March 2012
Developed and hosted on Google Blogger (
Cooperation and integration into existing U-MH Wellness Passport Program
Participants awarded Wellness Point (incentive) for responding to 3 blog posts
Post-survey developed through Survey Monkey® to determine if research question was answered
Outcomes measured using blog website statistics, U-MH Wellness Committee data, and survey tool:
Awareness of wellness program
Participation in wellness program
Participants’ healthy behaviors
Post
Participant Responses
#1 Fiber 5
#2 Antioxidants
#3 Essential Fatty Acids 4
#4 Sweeteners
#5 Vegetarian Diet 3
Total Responses 21
Unique Respondents 8
CONTACT INFORMATION AND
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
Obesity-related costs
Nutrition Intervention
Exceed $110 billion annually1
Diet-related employee wellness interventions influence nutrition knowledge, food intake, and health
Medical expenses 30% greater than normal-weight Americans. 2
Reduce absenteeism and increase productivity4
Wellness Programs
Can integrate into existing wellness programs
Reduce obesity-related costs
Involve incentives
Incorporate healthy activities
Combining a social media approach such as a blog with nutrition education serves to provide an easily accessible, inexpensive wellness program intervention.
Remote multimedia interventions as successful as traditional activities3
Contact Rebecca Scofield:
Thanks to:
Underwood-Memorial Hospital’s Wellness Committee
Rob Manestrino, Vice President of Human Resources
Rosanne Leibhart, MS, RD, CNSC, Clinical Nutrition Manager
Krystyna Bowen, Project Coordinator
Lisa DeHaven, MS, RD, LDN, ARAMARK Dietetic Internship Director
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