Partnerships to expand worksite wellness programs - A qualitative analysis of state and local health department perspectives
Chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes are the leading causes of death and disability in the U. S. Because the central mission of state and local health departments (HDs) is to protect, promote, and improve population health, these agencies are well-positioned to address risk b...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SAGE Publishing
2022-05-01
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| Series: | Inquiry: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/00469580221092822 |
| _version_ | 1811257432995790848 |
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| author | Christine M. Kava PhD, MA Michelle Strait MSW, MPH Meagan C. Brown PhD, MPH Kristen Hammerback MA Jeffrey R. Harris MD, MPH, MBA Jeanne Alongi DrPH, MPH Peggy A. Hannon PhD, MPH |
| author_facet | Christine M. Kava PhD, MA Michelle Strait MSW, MPH Meagan C. Brown PhD, MPH Kristen Hammerback MA Jeffrey R. Harris MD, MPH, MBA Jeanne Alongi DrPH, MPH Peggy A. Hannon PhD, MPH |
| author_sort | Christine M. Kava PhD, MA |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes are the leading causes of death and disability in the U. S. Because the central mission of state and local health departments (HDs) is to protect, promote, and improve population health, these agencies are well-positioned to address risk behaviors for chronic disease. HD-employer partnerships could enhance worksite wellness programming, but few studies have explored this topic. Building upon previously published findings, the purpose of this qualitative study was to describe the context and environment for HDs’ delivery of worksite wellness programs, including interest, barriers, facilitators, and decision-making processes. We conducted 12 interviews with directors of state chronic disease programs, 21 interviews with local directors, and three focus groups with local staff. We performed a thematic analysis of the data. Key themes include the following: (1) worksite wellness programs delivered by HDs were diverse in topic and scope and delivered both internally (at the HD for their agency) and externally (for other employers); (2) decisions made about chronic disease prevention were largely driven by funding priorities, with federal, state, and local entities playing roles in the decision-making process; and (3) HDs expressed potential interest in worksite wellness program delivery, dependent upon staff capacity, available funding, and employer buy-in. Our results suggest that funding should be increased for and reallocated towards chronic disease prevention, including worksite wellness. To overcome HD barriers to program delivery, key funders and stakeholders should prioritize and communicate the importance of worksite wellness. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T17:57:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4a8d70d1322c4c5d8c88d18ad67ed53e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0046-9580 1945-7243 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T17:57:14Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Inquiry: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing |
| spelling | doaj.art-4a8d70d1322c4c5d8c88d18ad67ed53e2022-12-22T03:22:18ZengSAGE PublishingInquiry: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing0046-95801945-72432022-05-015910.1177/00469580221092822Partnerships to expand worksite wellness programs - A qualitative analysis of state and local health department perspectivesChristine M. Kava PhD, MA0Michelle Strait MSW, MPH1Meagan C. Brown PhD, MPH2Kristen Hammerback MA3Jeffrey R. Harris MD, MPH, MBA4Jeanne Alongi DrPH, MPH5Peggy A. Hannon PhD, MPH6Health Promotion Research Center, Department of Health Systems and Population Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USAHealth Promotion Research Center, Department of Health Systems and Population Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USAHealth Promotion Research Center, Department of Health Systems and Population Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USAHealth Promotion Research Center, Department of Health Systems and Population Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USAHealth Promotion Research Center, Department of Health Systems and Population Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USANational Association for Chronic Disease Directors, Sacramento, CA, USAHealth Promotion Research Center, Department of Health Systems and Population Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USAChronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes are the leading causes of death and disability in the U. S. Because the central mission of state and local health departments (HDs) is to protect, promote, and improve population health, these agencies are well-positioned to address risk behaviors for chronic disease. HD-employer partnerships could enhance worksite wellness programming, but few studies have explored this topic. Building upon previously published findings, the purpose of this qualitative study was to describe the context and environment for HDs’ delivery of worksite wellness programs, including interest, barriers, facilitators, and decision-making processes. We conducted 12 interviews with directors of state chronic disease programs, 21 interviews with local directors, and three focus groups with local staff. We performed a thematic analysis of the data. Key themes include the following: (1) worksite wellness programs delivered by HDs were diverse in topic and scope and delivered both internally (at the HD for their agency) and externally (for other employers); (2) decisions made about chronic disease prevention were largely driven by funding priorities, with federal, state, and local entities playing roles in the decision-making process; and (3) HDs expressed potential interest in worksite wellness program delivery, dependent upon staff capacity, available funding, and employer buy-in. Our results suggest that funding should be increased for and reallocated towards chronic disease prevention, including worksite wellness. To overcome HD barriers to program delivery, key funders and stakeholders should prioritize and communicate the importance of worksite wellness.https://doi.org/10.1177/00469580221092822 |
| spellingShingle | Christine M. Kava PhD, MA Michelle Strait MSW, MPH Meagan C. Brown PhD, MPH Kristen Hammerback MA Jeffrey R. Harris MD, MPH, MBA Jeanne Alongi DrPH, MPH Peggy A. Hannon PhD, MPH Partnerships to expand worksite wellness programs - A qualitative analysis of state and local health department perspectives Inquiry: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing |
| title | Partnerships to expand worksite wellness programs - A qualitative analysis of state and local health department perspectives |
| title_full | Partnerships to expand worksite wellness programs - A qualitative analysis of state and local health department perspectives |
| title_fullStr | Partnerships to expand worksite wellness programs - A qualitative analysis of state and local health department perspectives |
| title_full_unstemmed | Partnerships to expand worksite wellness programs - A qualitative analysis of state and local health department perspectives |
| title_short | Partnerships to expand worksite wellness programs - A qualitative analysis of state and local health department perspectives |
| title_sort | partnerships to expand worksite wellness programs a qualitative analysis of state and local health department perspectives |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/00469580221092822 |
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