555341
research-article2014
PED0010.1177/1757975914555341Original ArticleM-M. Chen et al.
Original Article The effectiveness and barriers of implementing a workplace health promotion program to improve metabolic disorders in older workers in Taiwan Meei-Maan Chen1,2, Alan C. Tsai1,3 and Jiun-Yi Wang1,4
Abstract: To determine the effectiveness of a pragmatic health promotion program to improve the metabolic disorders in older workers in Taiwan, we conducted a 24-week quasi-experiment in three worksites in southern Taiwan in 2010. Among 1,245 workers, 108 met the inclusion criteria (fulltime workers aged over 50 years) and agreed to participate in the study. They were assigned to either the intervention (n = 58) or the reference group (n = 50) according to their availability to participate in health-promoting activities. The intervention group received training in behavioral modifications to improve diet, time-use, stress management and physical activity. Motivational lectures, group activities, and team competitions were used to improve participants’ knowledge and skills in managing own health. Subjects in the reference group received no intervention. Lifestyle, anthropometric and biochemical indicators were measured at baseline and end-point. Mixed effects linear models were used to determine the intervention effects. The intervention significantly lowered body weight (intervention vs. reference = −1.22 vs. –0.30kg, p = 0.026), BMI (–0.46 vs. –0.02kg/m2, p = 0.006), and waist circumference (–2.68 vs. +0.79cm, p 0.05, data not shown). The study design and flowchart of study subjects are shown in Figure 1. Fifty-six of the 58 subjects in the intervention group and 43 of 50 subjects in the reference group completed the study. Those who discontinued were mainly due to retirement and out-of-office job assignments. Table 1 shows the characteristics of participants at baseline. The intervention and reference groups averaged 54.5 ± 3.8 and 55.7 ± 4.0 years old, respectively. The two groups were homogeneous in all characteristics, except smoking. All participants had at least one metabolic disorder. Table 2 shows the intervention effects. The intervention significantly increased the frequency of physical activity (+0.73 times/week, p = 0.001), but had no effect on vegetable consumption, sleep duration or sedentary time. The intervention also significantly decreased WC (–3.47 cm, p
research-article2014
PED0010.1177/1757975914555341Original ArticleM-M. Chen et al.
Original Article The effectiveness and barriers of implementing a workplace health promotion program to improve metabolic disorders in older workers in Taiwan Meei-Maan Chen1,2, Alan C. Tsai1,3 and Jiun-Yi Wang1,4
Abstract: To determine the effectiveness of a pragmatic health promotion program to improve the metabolic disorders in older workers in Taiwan, we conducted a 24-week quasi-experiment in three worksites in southern Taiwan in 2010. Among 1,245 workers, 108 met the inclusion criteria (fulltime workers aged over 50 years) and agreed to participate in the study. They were assigned to either the intervention (n = 58) or the reference group (n = 50) according to their availability to participate in health-promoting activities. The intervention group received training in behavioral modifications to improve diet, time-use, stress management and physical activity. Motivational lectures, group activities, and team competitions were used to improve participants’ knowledge and skills in managing own health. Subjects in the reference group received no intervention. Lifestyle, anthropometric and biochemical indicators were measured at baseline and end-point. Mixed effects linear models were used to determine the intervention effects. The intervention significantly lowered body weight (intervention vs. reference = −1.22 vs. –0.30kg, p = 0.026), BMI (–0.46 vs. –0.02kg/m2, p = 0.006), and waist circumference (–2.68 vs. +0.79cm, p 0.05, data not shown). The study design and flowchart of study subjects are shown in Figure 1. Fifty-six of the 58 subjects in the intervention group and 43 of 50 subjects in the reference group completed the study. Those who discontinued were mainly due to retirement and out-of-office job assignments. Table 1 shows the characteristics of participants at baseline. The intervention and reference groups averaged 54.5 ± 3.8 and 55.7 ± 4.0 years old, respectively. The two groups were homogeneous in all characteristics, except smoking. All participants had at least one metabolic disorder. Table 2 shows the intervention effects. The intervention significantly increased the frequency of physical activity (+0.73 times/week, p = 0.001), but had no effect on vegetable consumption, sleep duration or sedentary time. The intervention also significantly decreased WC (–3.47 cm, p
