Citation

Dement JM, Epling C, Joyner J, Cavanaugh K. J. Occup. Environ. Med. 2015; 57(11): 1159-1169.

Affiliation

Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (Dr Dement, Dr Epling), Duke University Medical Center; Duke Occupational Health and Wellness (Ms Joyner); and Duke Human Resources (Mr Cavanaugh), Durham, North Carolina.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/JOM.0000000000000555

PMID

26539763

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the impacts of a long-standing workplace health promotion (HP) program on health care utilization and costs and estimated return on investment (ROI).

METHODS: Analyses used a retrospective, observational cohort design based on 7 years (2005 to 2011) of health claims and HP program participation data for 3829 HP participants and 6617 controls. Inverse propensity score-weighted mixed-model regression methods were used to balance employee demographics and comorbidities by study arm.

RESULTS: Mean monthly health care costs were $35 less for HP participants compared with controls, and results were robust based on sensitivity analyses. ROI was estimated to be $2.53 for every dollar spent on the HP program.

CONCLUSIONS: Results support a positive impact of HP program participation with regard to reduced health care utilization and costs and a positive ROI.

Language: en