Feasibility Study Of Online Screening And Brief Intervention For Alcohol Misuse In Workplace Settings
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Abstract
Background
The World Health Organisation recommends the provision of personal health resources, including health assessments, as one of four ways of achieving a healthy workplace. Online health checks delivering personalised feedback on risk of harm associated with health behaviours provide a confidential setting and can be accessed by an entire workforce simultaneously. There is a limited literature on how employees feel about answering questions on their health in the workplace, particularly online, where there may be concerns around repercussions of divulging this information.
Aim: To explore the feasibility and acceptability of offering online screening and personalised feedback for alcohol misuse in workplace settings, delivered as part of an online health check.
Methods: This feasibility study was conducted online in six organisations selected for their diversity: public and private sector organisations, different types of public sector organisations (local council, hospital, university), different sized organisations (ranging from 700 employees to 19,000) and different geographical regions across England. Eligible participants were employees at each of the six workplaces, providing informed consent. Employees were invited to complete an online health check, which asked them about behaviours known to impact on their health and wellbeing, namely alcohol, smoking, diet and physical activity. All participants were contacted by email at three months to complete an online battery of questionnaires, including the AUDIT (measure of alcohol-related harm), and questions on the acceptability, feasibility and potential risk of using the intervention.
Results: The number of employees accessing the online health check as a proportion of the total workforce varied from 2% to 35% across the six workplaces. The proportion of participants completing the AUDIT at follow-up ranged from 51% to 72%. Participants across workplaces were mostly female (range 56% to 79%), with the exception of the petro-chemical company (18% female). The median age was 43 years, the majority of participants were White (94%) and in administrative roles. The proportion of participants scoring eight or more on the AUDIT (indicating alcohol-related harm) ranged from 23% to 28% in the three local councils, 25% in the university, 18% in the hospital and 34% in the petro-chemical company. There was a low prevalence of smoking (10%), average level of physical activity was 350 minutes a week (85% exceeding recommended threshold) and average fruit and vegetable consumption was three portions a day (30% exceeding threshold). Further results on the acceptability, feasibility and potential risk of the intervention are currently being analysed and will be ready for presentation in November 2014.
Conclusions: Initial findings suggest that an online health check delivered across a range of workplace settings is feasible and supported enthusiastically by occupational health leads. Employees who completed the health check appeared comfortable divulging their health behaviours online. However, key challenges include low rates of engagement with the intervention and selection bias, with the offer of a health check attracting healthy employees and not those most likely to benefit from changing their health behaviours.
The World Health Organisation recommends the provision of personal health resources, including health assessments, as one of four ways of achieving a healthy workplace. Online health checks delivering personalised feedback on risk of harm associated with health behaviours provide a confidential setting and can be accessed by an entire workforce simultaneously. There is a limited literature on how employees feel about answering questions on their health in the workplace, particularly online, where there may be concerns around repercussions of divulging this information.
Aim: To explore the feasibility and acceptability of offering online screening and personalised feedback for alcohol misuse in workplace settings, delivered as part of an online health check.
Methods: This feasibility study was conducted online in six organisations selected for their diversity: public and private sector organisations, different types of public sector organisations (local council, hospital, university), different sized organisations (ranging from 700 employees to 19,000) and different geographical regions across England. Eligible participants were employees at each of the six workplaces, providing informed consent. Employees were invited to complete an online health check, which asked them about behaviours known to impact on their health and wellbeing, namely alcohol, smoking, diet and physical activity. All participants were contacted by email at three months to complete an online battery of questionnaires, including the AUDIT (measure of alcohol-related harm), and questions on the acceptability, feasibility and potential risk of using the intervention.
Results: The number of employees accessing the online health check as a proportion of the total workforce varied from 2% to 35% across the six workplaces. The proportion of participants completing the AUDIT at follow-up ranged from 51% to 72%. Participants across workplaces were mostly female (range 56% to 79%), with the exception of the petro-chemical company (18% female). The median age was 43 years, the majority of participants were White (94%) and in administrative roles. The proportion of participants scoring eight or more on the AUDIT (indicating alcohol-related harm) ranged from 23% to 28% in the three local councils, 25% in the university, 18% in the hospital and 34% in the petro-chemical company. There was a low prevalence of smoking (10%), average level of physical activity was 350 minutes a week (85% exceeding recommended threshold) and average fruit and vegetable consumption was three portions a day (30% exceeding threshold). Further results on the acceptability, feasibility and potential risk of the intervention are currently being analysed and will be ready for presentation in November 2014.
Conclusions: Initial findings suggest that an online health check delivered across a range of workplace settings is feasible and supported enthusiastically by occupational health leads. Employees who completed the health check appeared comfortable divulging their health behaviours online. However, key challenges include low rates of engagement with the intervention and selection bias, with the offer of a health check attracting healthy employees and not those most likely to benefit from changing their health behaviours.
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