RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To test whether participation in an incentive-based online physical activity program for employees was associated with a moderation in health care costs. METHODS: Health care claims trends from 2003 to 2005 were analyzed among a matched sample of participants and nonparticipants. Medical and pharmacy costs, hospital inpatient costs, and emergency room costs were examined. RESULTS: The average annual health care costs for participants increased by $291 per year compared with an increase of $360 for nonparticipants (P = 0.09). Higher levels of participation were associated with smaller increases in health care costs. Participants had a significantly smaller increase in inpatient hospital costs (+$20 vs +$119), heart disease costs ($-8 vs $46), and diabetic costs (+$1 vs +$16) compared with nonparticipants. CONCLUSIONS: Participation in an online employee physical activity intervention was associated with smaller increases in health care costs compared to nonparticipants.
Assuntos
Exercício Físico , Custos de Cuidados de Saúde/estatística & dados numéricos , Promoção da Saúde/métodos , Atividade Motora , Saúde Ocupacional , Adulto , Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. , Feminino , Humanos , Seguro Saúde , Internet , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Motivação , Saúde Ocupacional/estatística & dados numéricos , Recompensa , Estados Unidos , Interface Usuário-ComputadorRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to test whether a financial incentive integrated with health benefits for an online physical activity program was associated with increased employee participation and improved health status among participants compared with nonparticipants. METHODS: Participation in the Virtual Fitness Center (VFC), an online physical activity program associated with a 150 dollars cash rebate, was assessed. Risk status for 2004 VFC participants and nonparticipants was compared using a health risk appraisal. RESULTS: A total of 53.8% of total eligible employees were VFC participants and reduced their risk for physical inactivity (8.4% points), life dissatisfaction (2.1), low perception of health (1.9), high risk status (1.3), smoking (0.4), and high body weight (0.2). CONCLUSIONS: Providing a cash incentive is one strategy for encouraging VFC participation and eliciting improved health status in an employer-sponsored, web-based physical activity program.