There is no conflict of interest.
Highlights
- The study's objective was to examine the impact of the Discover Wellness: Find a Healthier You (DW) program on health outcomes.
- The study used an interrupted time series design and collected data via surveys. The authors used a series of statistical tests to compare the outcomes of participants before and after their participation in the DW program.
- The study found positive statistically significant relationships between participating in the DW program and each of the four outcome variables (stress management, physical activity, sleep behavior, and nutrition).
- This study receives a low evidence rating. This means we are not confident that the estimated effects are attributable to the Discover Wellness: Find a Healthier You (DW) program; other factors are likely to have contributed.
Intervention Examined
Features of the Intervention
The Discover Wellness: Find a Healthier You (DW) program was implemented at a northeast state university to improve the health of university staff. This seven-week program included virtual meetings twice a week for participants to focus on improving stress management, nutrition, physical activity, and sleep. Each week began with a pre-intervention survey to assess participants' health behavior skills and knowledge. On Mondays, they attended a mini lecture and engaged in a related activity. From Tuesday to Thursday, they practiced behavior change techniques, and on Fridays, they participated in a group wellness coaching session to discuss their progress. At the end of each week, participants completed a post-intervention survey to evaluate their skills, knowledge, and overall experience in the program. The DW program aimed to support employees in higher education settings.
Features of the Study
The study used an interrupted time series design to compare the participants' health outcomes before and after the program implementation. The sample included 13 female employees, aged 26 to 65 years, from one northeast state university. Among these, twelve were professional staff and one was a faculty member. The primary data sources were the pre-intervention and post-intervention surveys completed by participants during each of the seven weeks of the program. These surveys aimed to evaluate participants' self-assessments of their health skills, knowledge, and overall program experience. The pre-intervention survey was administered before each Monday, while the post-intervention survey was conducted after each Friday. The authors compared the outcomes of participants before and after they participated in the intervention to determine if there were significant differences in employees' average rating of health skills and knowledge.
Findings
Health and safety
- The study found a significant relationship between participation in the DW program and improvements in stress management, physical activity, sleep behavior, and nutrition after the intervention.
Considerations for Interpreting the Findings
The authors compared the outcomes of participants measured before and after they participated in the DW program. For these types of designs, the authors must observe outcomes for multiple periods before the intervention to rule out the possibility that participants had increasing or decreasing trends in the outcomes examined before enrollment in the program. That is, if participants who had increasing self-reported ratings of stress management, physical activity, sleep behavior, and nutrition tended to enroll in the program, we would anticipate further increases over time, even if they did not participate in the program. Without knowing the trends before program enrollment, we cannot rule this out. Therefore, the study receives a low causal evidence rating.
Causal Evidence Rating
Research Guidelines
Review Protocol: Living Systematic Annual Search and Review Protocol
Review Guidelines: Causal Evidence Guidelines