Worksite Wellness

A Preliminary Study Utilizing E-mail Health Messages for City Employees

Abstract

The purpose of this 38-week, quasi-experimental study was to determine the effectiveness of one weekly e-mail health (e-health) message that utilized the World Health Organization’s seven dimensions of wellness. Employees from a large Midwestern city were recruited and divided into two groups based on their desire to receive additional health information. The participants in each group were then randomly assigned to receive basic or detailed e-health messages. The basic e-health message consisted of an e-mail with health tips for the specific topic; whereas the detailed message included the basic message plus links to games, surveys, and websites to supplement the basic message. Those lacking an e-mail address comprised the control group, and did not receive any e-health messages. A total of 46 employees completed both assessments and comprised the analytic sample. Systolic blood pressure significantly decreased in unmotivated participants receiving the detailed messages (-2.1 mmHg, p=0.04). Across all groups, at-risk participants (blood pressure ? 140/90 mm/Hg or body mass index ? 25 kg/m2) showed greatest improvement with significant drops in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Detailed ehealth messages may be an effective approach to assist employees who are at-risk for chronic disease.