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Title: An Evaluation of Army Wellness Center Clients’ Health-Related Outcomes

Journal Article · · American Journal of Health Promotion
 [1];  [2];  [1];  [3]
  1. 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
  2. Army Public Health Center, Health Promotion and Wellness Directorate, Public Health Assessment Division, Aberdeen Proving Ground-Edgewood Area, MD, USA
  3. 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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