Behaviour Change Following a Workplace Health Check

How Much Change Occurs and Who Changes?

Dados Bibliográficos

ID22945884
AutoresPhil Hanlon (University of Glasgow, autor correspondente), Leeann Carey, C Tannahill, M Kelly (0000-0001-7955-3860), Michael P Kelly (0000-0002-2029-5841, University of Greenwich), Harper Gilmour (University of Glasgow), Andrew Tannahill (Education Scotland), J Mcewen (University of Glasgow)
Ano1998
Volume13
Fascículo2
Páginas131-139
Data de publicação1998-01-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoHealth Promotion International (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0957-4824 • E-ISSN: 1460-2245
EditoraOxford University Press (OUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1093/heapro/13.2.131
OpenAlexW2118667189
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas4
Referências citadas4

An observational study, involving 1053 employees of a Glasgow factory, was conducted to determine the overall level of behaviour change and the characteristics of those who responded after attending a workplace health check. Eight hundred and sixty-eight individuals received one of four versions of a health check. Participants were deemed to have ‘responded’ if they made one or more of the advised behaviour changes (stopped smoking, increased exercise, reduced alcohol consumption, improved diet). Twenty-six per cent of participants were not ‘at risk’ on entry to the study. Those in the ‘not at risk’ group were characterised by having higher socio-economic status and educational attainment than those ‘at risk’ and were more likely to perceive themselves as being in good health and at low risk of coronary heart disease. Forty-seven per cent of those who received the health check and returned for follow-up reported one or more of the desired behaviour changes (responders). In comparison to those who made none of the desired changes (the non-responders), responders tended to perceive their own health to be poorer and their risk of coronary heart disease to be greater and they were more likely to have perceived the health check as threatening. In future, health check interventions should take account of these two important findings: that such a large proportion (almost half) responded positively by changing behaviour and that it was those who perceived themselves to be ‘at risk’ who tended to comply with advised behaviour changes.

Alcohol · Alcohol consumption · Behaviour change · Coronary heart disease · Environmental health · Health risk · Observational study · Psychiatry · Psychological intervention · Demography · Health and Wellbeing Research · Health Promotion and Cardiovascular Prevention · Medicine · School Health and Nursing Education