Assessing Hospital Employee's Readiness for Change for a Workplace Wellness Program

Abstract

The aims of this study were to measure attitudes of hospital employees towards health and healthy behaviors and provide exploratory research that will guide stakeholders in strategically planning a worksite wellness (WW) program at a Catholic hospital. Methods used included a cross-sectional study with census data from a population of employees in a hospital utilizing Prochaska’s Stages of Change to assess their readiness. Participants (N=705) were also asked to identify 1) meaningful WW incentives, 2) job stressors encountered and 3) if spirituality/religiosity played a role in their health. Using frequency and Chi-square distributions, this census survey revealed a readiness to engage in exercise, weight control and stress management. A higher engagement in positive health behaviors was seen in those who reported spirituality/religiosity, especially when involved in a spiritual/religious community. Major themes suggested that this hospital would benefit from WW incentives that target exercise, weight control and stress management and that allow employees to pursue these health goals in supportive relationships with each other. A unique holistic approach to worksite wellness, incorporating “body”, “mind”, and “spirit” is discussed and ultimately guided the interpretation and application of the survey data.