Effects of a Tailored Health Promotion Program for Female Blue-Collar Workers: Health Works for Women

• Published in: Preventive medicine Vol. 34; no. 3; pp. 313 - 323
• Main Authors: Campbell, Marci Kramish, Tessaro, Irene, DeVellis, Brenda, Benedict, Salli, Kelsey, Kristine, Belton, Leigh, Sanhueza, Antonio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-03-2002
• Subjects: Adult; Analysis of Variance; Attitude to Health; Cohort Studies; dietary intervention; disease prevention; Female; Health Promotion - organization & administration; Health Surveys; Humans; Middle Aged; North Carolina; Occupational Health Services - organization & administration; Organizational Innovation; physical activity; Preventive Medicine - methods; Probability; Program Evaluation; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Rural Population; Surveys and Questionnaires; tailored messages; women's health; Women's Health Services - organization & administration; Workplace; workplace health promotion; North Carolina; workplace health promotion; disease prevention; tailored messages; women's health; dietary intervention; physical activity
• ISSN: 0091-7435; 1096-0260
• DOI: 10.1006/pmed.2001.0988

Background. This study assessed the effects of the Health Works for Women (HWW) intervention on improving multiple behaviors including nutrition and physical activity among rural female blue-collar employees in North Carolina.
Methods. Nine small to mid-size workplaces were randomly assigned to either intervention or delayed intervention conditions. After a baseline survey, an intervention consisting of two computer-tailored magazines and a natural helpers program was conducted over 18 months. Delayed worksites received one tailored magazine. Approximately 77 and 76% of baseline respondents completed follow-up surveys at 6 and 18 months, respectively, and 538 women (63%) completed all three surveys.
Results. At the 18-month follow-up, the intervention group had increased fruit and vegetable consumption by 0.7 daily servings compared to no change in the delayed group (P < 0.05). Significant differences in fat intake were observed at 6 months (P < 0.05) but not at 18 months. The intervention group also demonstrated improvements in strengthening and flexibility exercise compared to the delayed group. The rates of smoking cessation and cancer screening did not differ between study groups.
Conclusions. The HWW project was a successful model for achieving certain health behavior changes among blue-collar women.