West Virginia State Employees’ Preferences for Worksite Wellness Programming

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the wellness programming preferences of state employees in West Virginia. Study Design: A survey-based, descriptive analysis of employees' preferences Methods: State employees (n = 18,791) of West Virginia were given a 38-item wellness survey. Items assessed employees' interest in programming, methods for receiving wellness information, and incentives for participation. Descriptive statistics were run to provide a summary of state employees' preferences. Results: The survey response rate was 40%. Respondents showed interest in physical activity (81.0%), nutrition (77.6%) and stress management programming (61.1%). A personalized webpage was the highest rated method of receiving wellness information and a discount on insurance premiums would be the most motivating incentive (69.6%). Conclusion: Interest in wellness programming was high, which suggests that appropriately target interventions may engage a large portion of West Virginia citizens in health education and lifestyle change.