Abstract
Estimating the true financial impact of worksite health promotion is complicated by a number of factors. Some of these are related to the feasibility of research designs. For example, it may be difficult, if not impossible, to conduct a randomized trial to assess financial impact, since worksites are not laboratories that can be easily controlled and employees deserve and preserve the right to choose whether to participate in health promotion interventions. Other complicating factors are due to data issues, such as the existence of many zero values of health expenditures or absence days for workers who remain healthy throughout the year, contrasted by the occurrence of a few extremely large outlier values for those who may be chronically ill. Methods for addressing these and other issues are described in this paper. We call for more sophisticated research methods than have been used in the past, to generate better estimates of financial impact, in which managers can place more confidence. We also call for government funding of impact evaluations, to aid smaller employers and others who cannot secure internal funds for a scientifically credible (and therefore policy-relevant) evaluation.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 289-295 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | American Journal of Health Promotion |
| Volume | 15 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| State | Published - May 2001 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Cite this
Getting closer to the truth : Overcoming research challenges when estimating the financial impact of worksite health promotion programs. / Ozminkowski, Ronald J.; Goetzel, Ronnie.
In: American Journal of Health Promotion, Vol. 15, No. 5, 05.2001, p. 289-295.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Getting closer to the truth
T2 - Overcoming research challenges when estimating the financial impact of worksite health promotion programs
AU - Ozminkowski, Ronald J.
AU - Goetzel, Ronnie
PY - 2001/5
Y1 - 2001/5
N2 - Estimating the true financial impact of worksite health promotion is complicated by a number of factors. Some of these are related to the feasibility of research designs. For example, it may be difficult, if not impossible, to conduct a randomized trial to assess financial impact, since worksites are not laboratories that can be easily controlled and employees deserve and preserve the right to choose whether to participate in health promotion interventions. Other complicating factors are due to data issues, such as the existence of many zero values of health expenditures or absence days for workers who remain healthy throughout the year, contrasted by the occurrence of a few extremely large outlier values for those who may be chronically ill. Methods for addressing these and other issues are described in this paper. We call for more sophisticated research methods than have been used in the past, to generate better estimates of financial impact, in which managers can place more confidence. We also call for government funding of impact evaluations, to aid smaller employers and others who cannot secure internal funds for a scientifically credible (and therefore policy-relevant) evaluation.
AB - Estimating the true financial impact of worksite health promotion is complicated by a number of factors. Some of these are related to the feasibility of research designs. For example, it may be difficult, if not impossible, to conduct a randomized trial to assess financial impact, since worksites are not laboratories that can be easily controlled and employees deserve and preserve the right to choose whether to participate in health promotion interventions. Other complicating factors are due to data issues, such as the existence of many zero values of health expenditures or absence days for workers who remain healthy throughout the year, contrasted by the occurrence of a few extremely large outlier values for those who may be chronically ill. Methods for addressing these and other issues are described in this paper. We call for more sophisticated research methods than have been used in the past, to generate better estimates of financial impact, in which managers can place more confidence. We also call for government funding of impact evaluations, to aid smaller employers and others who cannot secure internal funds for a scientifically credible (and therefore policy-relevant) evaluation.
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M3 - Article
C2 - 11502011
AN - SCOPUS:0035026042
VL - 15
SP - 289
EP - 295
JO - American Journal of Health Promotion
JF - American Journal of Health Promotion
SN - 0890-1171
IS - 5
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