An Evaluation of Army Wellness Center Clients’ Health-Related Outcomes
- Army Public Health Center, Health Promotion and Wellness Directorate, Public Health Assessment Division, Aberdeen Proving Ground-Edgewood Area, MD, USA, Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU), Belcamp, MD, USA
- Army Public Health Center, Health Promotion and Wellness Directorate, Public Health Assessment Division, Aberdeen Proving Ground-Edgewood Area, MD, USA
- Army Public Health Center, Health Promotion and Wellness Directorate, Army Wellness Center Operations Division, Aberdeen Proving Ground-Edgewood Area, MD, USA
Purpose: To examine whether Army community members participating in a best-practice based workplace health promotion program (WHPP) experience goal-moderated improvements in health-related outcomes. Design: Pretest/posttest outcome evaluation examining an autonomously participating client cohort over 1 year. Setting: Army Wellness Center facilities on 19 Army installations. Participants: Army community members sample (N = 5703), mostly Active Duty Soldiers (64%). Intervention: Assessment of health risks with feedback, health assessments, health education classes, and health coaching sessions conducted by health educators at a recommended frequency of once a month for 3 to 12 months. Measures: Initial and follow-up outcome assessments of body mass index (BMI), body fat, cardiorespiratory fitness, blood pressure, and perceived stress. Analysis: Mixed model linear regression testing for goal-moderated improvements in outcomes. Results: Clients experienced significant improvements in body fat (−2% change), perceived stress (−6% to −12% change), cardiorespiratory fitness (+6% change), and blood pressure (−1% change) regardless of health-related goal. Only clients with a weight loss goal experienced BMI improvement (−1% change). Follow-up outcome assessment rates ranged from 44% (N = 2509) for BMI to 6% (N = 342) for perceived stress. Conclusion: Army Wellness Center clients with at least 1 follow-up outcome assessment experienced improvements in military readiness correlates and chronic disease risk factors. Evaluation design and follow-up-related limitations notwithstanding results suggest that best practices in WHPPs can effectively serve a globally distributed military force.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 1419686
- Journal Information:
- American Journal of Health Promotion, Journal Name: American Journal of Health Promotion Vol. 32 Journal Issue: 7; ISSN 0890-1171
- Publisher:
- SAGE PublicationsCopyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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