TY - JOUR
T1 - Change in health-related quality of life amongst participants in a 4-month pedometer-based workplace health program
AU - Harding, Jessica Lee
AU - Freak-Poli, Rosanne
AU - Backholer, Kathryn
AU - Peeters, Anna
PY - 2013
Y1 - 2013
N2 - Background: Regular physical activity (PA) is associated with a reduced risk for chronic health conditions and improved health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Efforts to increase PA have included workplace health promotion. Currently, little is known about the effect of these programs on overall HRQoL. Aim: To evaluate whether participation in a pedometer-based PA program in the workplace was associated with changes in HRQoL. Methods: 487 voluntary employees enrolled in a health program completed the SF-12 Health Survey at baseline and 4 months. Change in Physical and Mental component summary scores (PCS; MCS) was assessed with multivariable regression analysis, adjusting for covariates. Results: Participation in the program was associated with an increase of 1.5 MCS units (95 CI: 0.76,-2.09). Greater improvements in MCS were observed in those reporting an increased level of PA during the program [1.9 (CI: 0.78, 2.92) versus 0.9 (CI:-0.12, 2.03)] and a lower baseline MCS score [6.3 (CI: 4.80, 7.62) versus-1.5 (CI:-2.21,-0.80)]. No change in PCS was observed. Conclusions: Participation in this workplace PA program was associated with improvements in the mental component of HRQoL. We recommend the use of a broad perspective of health be used in both the implementation and evaluation of workplace PA programs.
AB - Background: Regular physical activity (PA) is associated with a reduced risk for chronic health conditions and improved health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Efforts to increase PA have included workplace health promotion. Currently, little is known about the effect of these programs on overall HRQoL. Aim: To evaluate whether participation in a pedometer-based PA program in the workplace was associated with changes in HRQoL. Methods: 487 voluntary employees enrolled in a health program completed the SF-12 Health Survey at baseline and 4 months. Change in Physical and Mental component summary scores (PCS; MCS) was assessed with multivariable regression analysis, adjusting for covariates. Results: Participation in the program was associated with an increase of 1.5 MCS units (95 CI: 0.76,-2.09). Greater improvements in MCS were observed in those reporting an increased level of PA during the program [1.9 (CI: 0.78, 2.92) versus 0.9 (CI:-0.12, 2.03)] and a lower baseline MCS score [6.3 (CI: 4.80, 7.62) versus-1.5 (CI:-2.21,-0.80)]. No change in PCS was observed. Conclusions: Participation in this workplace PA program was associated with improvements in the mental component of HRQoL. We recommend the use of a broad perspective of health be used in both the implementation and evaluation of workplace PA programs.
UR - http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.lib.monash.edu.au/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=5f8e6a9e-b42c-4635-bd77-8a2750fde612%40sessionmgr12&vid=2&hid=21
M3 - Article
SN - 1543-3080
VL - 10
SP - 533
EP - 543
JO - Journal of Physical Activity and Health
JF - Journal of Physical Activity and Health
IS - 4
ER -