Investigations determine the outcome of a Wellness Program. They help you figure out if your objectives were met. It’s a good idea to add an evaluation component to your Wellness Program.
Investigations may conclude that some interventions didn’t work well. You might find that a popular Health Promotion Program costs too much and didn’t really affect employees’ health.
While these may not be the outcomes you hoped for, without this information you may continue ineffective interventions. Having this information will help you develop better solutions.
When your results are excellent, it is magnificent! You can spread the word to staff members and executive management that your health promotion program is achieving its objectives.
Three major areas of an evaluation
• Health Promotion Program structure – the basic framework of the program
• Wellness Program process – Precisely how well the program is run
• Health Promotion Program outcomes – Regardless of whether the health promotion program met the set objectives
Common questions used to evaluate a Health Promotion Program
Structure Questions
• What is included in the Wellness Program? What is the intervention?
• Where does the Wellness Program take place?
• How is the Wellness Program delivered? What content is included?
• Who manages the Health Promotion Program?
Process Questions
• Exactly how many individuals participate?
• Do participants complete the Health Promotion Program?
• Are participants satisfied?
• Which aspects of the Health Promotion Program are best attended?
Outcome Questions
• Does the Wellness Program improve knowledge about health issues?
• Does the Wellness Program change behavior?
• Does the Health Promotion Program save the business money?
• What’s the ROI?
Download a sample health promotion program (http – //www.ibx.com/pdfs/custom/wellness_partners/services/turnkey_programs/walking/participant_eval.pdf) analysis from IBC’s Walking Towards Health Promotion program.
• Identify through an worker survey what incentives they value.
• Identify what incentives the company can provide in addition to what the budget will allow.
• Ensure that every participant who achieves a goal receives some recognition.
• Prevent offering incentives for the “best” or the “most.”
• Avoid using food as a reward.
• Use incentives to promote your wellness program, through logos and branding.
