Health Promotion Program – Choices Matter.

The menu approach offers staff a range of choices to support lifestyle changes. It authorizes individuals  to select the type of help that suits their schedules and preferences.

The four basic kinds of wellness programs include -

o  Classes

o  Minigroups

o  Guided self help

o  Individual counseling

Classes

Classes (8 or more) could be an effective means of providing education and social support for behavior change.  The length of a class can vary depending on topic requirements. It isn’t sufficient to offer only classes at a worksite.

A lot of staff are under time constraints with after work commitments and although they might be interested they simply can’t participate because of their schedules.

Employees could  be very eager to begin a wellness program but because of lack of participants to meet class quotas, the wellness program is canceled.

Many national companies like the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, Weight Watchers, etc. offer classes; you should’ve little trouble in identifying a provider for class kind wellness programs.

You could want to contact your local hospital, health department, or YMCA for possible choices. for picking  a provider to provide a health promotion program you could want to review the section on health promotion program structure.

Minigroups

When there is not enough interest to develop a class, those who are interested in a given health topic may be formed into a minigroup (2 to 7).

The minigroup can cover the same content as a class but do so in a less formal manner. Presentation of information and discussion is the major format of the minigroup.

Guided Self-Help

Most workforce don’t want formal help in making health changes; they prefer to do it on their own. In guided self-help, the wellness counselors provide support, materials, and encouragement.

Meeting times could be arranged and contact could be made either in person, by phone, or computer. Materials could be made available at the workplace, or mailed to the individual. Some workplaces now make information available via intranets or the Internet.

Individual Counseling

One of the most successful ways to help individuals change and improve their health status is counseling (or coaching) on a one-on-one basis.

In published studies, health promotion programs which incorporated individual counseling as part of the health promotion program process achieved significantly higher participation rates and achieved greater risk reduction/risk elimination than standard group programs. Studies have demonstrated that individual counseling is both cost effective and cost beneficial.

A wellness counselor must be trained in screening techniques, for in certain situations, they might be required to both screen person and counsel them. They ought to know how to do the following -

o  Review staff member health risks

o  Contact workforce who have health risks.

o  Counsel staff on a one-on-one basis, assisting them set objectives, solve problems, and get specialist help when they need it.

o  Be sure to help personnel follow their treatment recommendations and make lifestyle and health behavior changes.

o  Recruit staff into health promotion programs, like weight reduction and tobacco use cessation.

o  Make sure to work with staff members on a one-on-one basis using guided self-help.

o  Conduct classes and minigroups if necessary.

o  Be sure to work with wellness committee members to plan and conduct worksite-wide wellness activities.

Wellness counselors are health generalists; they must have basic knowledge about a broad range of health topics and health risks.

Counselors should be able to talk with workers about their medical problems and the treatments prescribed by their doctors.

They should’ve a good overview of nutrition, exercise physiology, pathophysiology of disease, pharmacology, psychology, and behavior change skills.