Date of Conferral

7-25-2025

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Health Education and Promotion

Advisor

Carol Spaulding

Abstract

Employee wellness programs are available in many health care organizations but remain underutilized by health care workers. Low employee participation in these wellness programs can negatively impact employees’ health-related quality of life (HRQoL), which, in turn, may adversely influence patient care and overall health outcomes. Despite this, little is known about which factors, such as perceived barriers and benefits, job category, or work shift, are associated with participation. This study addressed that gap by exploring how these variables relate to employee engagement in wellness programs and their potential impact on HRQoL. Guided by the health belief model, this study examined (a) perceived benefits and barriers to participation in employee wellness programs and (b) the relationships among participation frequency, HRQoL, work shifts, job roles, and demographic variables. In this observational, cross-sectional study, 200 health care workers in the United States participated in an online survey. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the ratio of benefits to barriers was the only significant predictor of participation frequency ( = .86, p < .001). Second, higher participation frequency was positively linked to more reported unhealthy days ( = .28, p < .001). Age, sex, job category, and race were not significantly associated with participation frequency. These findings can drive positive social change in health care organizations by providing insights into programs promoting healthier lifestyles and improving HRQoL among health care workers. Future efforts may benefit from increasing perceived benefits and reducing perceived barriers to strengthen engagement in wellness programs.

Download

Share

 
COinS