Effect of health risk appraisal on health outcomes in a university worksite health promotion trial

Data from a 1-year worksite health promotion trial were examinedto assess the effect of a health promotion intervention andhealth risk appraisal (HRA) on health behavior and health statusindicators among university employees. Forty-one departments(N = 2198) were randomly assigned to receive: (1) a health promotionintervention and a HRA, (2) the intervention only, (3) the riskappraisal only or (4) neither. After controlling for age, race,gender, job category and the appropriate baseline measure, groupassignment was used to predict total cholesterol level, systolicand diastolic blood pressure, exercise frequency, and body massindex (BMI) among 801 employees who completed both baselineand follow-up assessment. Receipt of the combination of theintervention and the risk appraisal or each component separatelyresulted in significantly lower systolic blood pressure andBMI.