Kawaiaha'o Church is among eight Hawai'i agencies participating in the Designing Healthy Worksites Project. - Photo: Courtesy of DHW Project

A healthier workplace
study underway

By Jodi Leslie, MPH, RD and Claire Hughes, DrPH, RD

"Designing Healthy Worksites" is the name of an innovative pilot project of 'Imi Hale and Papa Ola Lōkahi. Project Directors Jodi Leslie, MPH, RD and Claire Hughes, DrPH, RD partnered with eight Hawaiian service agencies to identify ways to improve the health of employees. Kapi'olani Laronal, MS, and Malie Hirao, BA, assisted on the project. Funding was received from the U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

During 2008, the Native Hawaiian research team collected data to find out:

• How worksite environments support and promote healthy lifestyles, especially healthy eating and physical activity, of employees;

• How worksite policies promote healthy lifestyles;

• What employees and employers would like to see in a worksite wellness program; and

• The best ways to measure health improvements that might occur if worksite wellness programs were to be expanded.

Through a series of interviews, group discussions and an online survey, the project identified existing policy and environmental supports for employee health and elicited employee ideas, opinions and preferences for wellness programs that could be offered in the workplace.

The eight participating Hawai'i agencies are the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Papa Ola Lōkahi, Alu Like, The Queen Lili'uokalani Children's Center, Hui No Ke Ola Pono, Ke Ola Mamo, Nā Pu'uwai, and Kawaiaha'o Church. Collectively these agencies employ just over 600 individuals throughout the state.

"At first, we thought we had to limit the number of participating agencies," said Ms. Leslie. "Fortunately, funding from OHA allowed us to include all interested organizations in this study."

The project team conducted on-site interviews and scanned worksite environments at each agency office site using standardized surveys. Later, small groups of employees gathered on each island to discuss what worksite situations supported or detracted from their health, what kinds of learning opportunities they thought might improve their health, and what might be used to measure health improvements gained.

Finally, an online survey was sent to all 600-plus participating agency employees, giving each employee the opportunity to identify their preferences and opinions on ideas suggested at the group meetings. In all, 72 percent of agency employees responded to the online survey.

"We were very pleased with the high response rate," commented Dr. Hughes. "Most researchers are happy with a 50 percent response rate. The high response confirms to me that Native Hawaiians are concerned about their health and want to improve it."

Of those responding to the online survey, 70 percent of employees at the eight agencies were Native Hawaiian and 73 percent were women. About 80 percent of respondents from the online survey rated their health as "good" to "excellent." However, about 40 percent felt they were 20 or more pounds overweight and almost 75 percent felt they needed to increase their level of exercise.

Employees identified ideas for supporting healthy lifestyles. For example, they would like help arranging for healthy foods to be sold at the office, sponsoring support groups at work, and making sure worksites have a water dispenser as well as lunchroom appliances to refrigerate and heat healthy foods.

Arminta Nishimura and Dien Truong, Kawaiaha'o Church employees, along with Claire Hughes. The church is among eight Hawai'i agencies participating in the Designing Healthy Worksites Project. Other participants are the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Papa Ola Lōkahi, Alu Like Inc., The Queen Lili'uokalani Children's Center, Hui No Ke Ola Pono, Ke Ola Mamo and Nā Pu'uwai. Collectively these agencies employ just over 600 individuals throughout the state. - Photo: Courtesy of DHW Project

To help employees exercise regularly, they supported worksites policies that allowed employees to adjust their workweek around exercise. They also suggested that worksites help negotiate discounts/lower membership rates at nearby fitness centers. They desired educational classes on cooking healthy meals and shopping for healthy foods on a budget. Motivators included annual fitness checks and prizes or recognition for reaching personal health goals. To measure program impact, employees wouldn't mind tracking changes in their weight and blood pressure and their use of wellness programs

Now that the findings are available, the research team will travel throughout the state to report the research findings to the participating agencies. Presentations were scheduled for February and March 2009.

A few similar studies have been conducted in the continental U.S. and abroad by companies that agree worksite wellness programs can help employees improve health. Adults develop a number of chronic health conditions while they are actively employed, as a consequence of aging or lifestyle behaviors. The workplace can offer opportunities in health promotion and education, which can help employees prevent or control chronic disease.

Most employers offer health insurance and other benefits that assist their employees. But studies have found that adding worksite wellness programs can help employers reduce or control health care costs and improve worker health. For example, worksite wellness programs can improve worker satisfaction and productivity and reduce worker absences and turnover.

During 2009, the research team will develop a tool kit of educational ideas and programs that worksites can implement. The suggestions in the tool kit will reflect the employee ideas and preferences identified during the 2008 research. Also included will be ideas for educational programs that have been successful in other states.

The team will assist participating agencies with selecting and implementing worksite wellness programs for their agencies, such as establishing in-house wellness committees, assisting agency implementation of wellness programs, policies and measures of success.

Project Leader Jodi Leslie is a public health nutritionist and registered dietitian.
She is currently pursuing her doctorate degree at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa.
Dr. Claire Hughes, a columnist for Ka Wai Ola, enjoys working on this project
and a few other voluntary community activities.