Title
Systematic review on the financial return of worksite health promotion programmes aimed at improving nutrition and/or increasing physical activity
Author
van Dongen, J.M.
Proper, K.I.
van Wier, M.F.
van der Beek, A.J.
Bongers, P.M.
van Mechelen, W.
van Tulder, M.W.
Publication year
2011
Abstract
Summary: This systematic review summarizes the current evidence on the financial return of worksite health promotion programmes aimed at improving nutrition and/or increasing physical activity. Data on study characteristics and results were extracted from 18 studies published up to 14 January 2011. Two reviewers independently assessed the risk of bias of included studies. Three metrics were (re-)calculated per study: the net benefits, benefit cost ratio (BCR) and return on investment (ROI). Metrics were averaged, and a post hoc subgroup analysis was performed to compare financial return estimates between study designs. Four randomized controlled trials (RCTs), 13 non-randomized studies (NRSs) and one modelling study were included. Average financial return estimates in terms of absenteeism benefits (NRS: ROI 325%, BCR 4.25; RCT: ROI -49%, BCR 0.51), medical benefits (NRS: ROI 95%, BCR 1.95; RCT: ROI -112%, BCR -0.12) or both (NRS: ROI 387%, BCR 4.87; RCT: ROI -92%, BCR 0.08) were positive in NRSs, but negative in RCTs. Worksite health promotion programmes aimed at improving nutrition and/or increasing physical activity generate financial savings in terms of reduced absenteeism costs, medical costs or both according to NRSs, whereas they do not according to RCTs. Since these programmes are associated with additional types of benefits, conclusions about their overall profitability cannot be made. © 2011 The Authors. obesity reviews © 2011 International Association for the Study of Obesity.
Subject
Organisation Healthy Living
WH - Work & Health HL - Healthy for Life
BSS - Behavioural and Societal Sciences
Workplace
Healthy Living
Dietary behaviour
Financial return
Physical activity
Worksite health promotion
absenteeism
benefit cost ratio
economic evaluation
feeding behavior
financial management
health care cost
health program
health promotion
human
nutritional value
occupational health
physical activity
return on investment
review
systematic review
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http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:2db1a810-54ea-455e-8ded-135246d0af71
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-789x.2011.00925.x
TNO identifier
446425
ISSN
1467-7881
Source
Obesity Reviews, 12 (12), 1031-1049
Document type
article