The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #63661

Mark G. Wilson, HSD¹, David M. DeJoy, PhD¹, Bryan S. Schaffer, MBA², Robert J. Vandenberg, PhD², and C. Shannon Griffin-Blake, PhD³. (1) Health Promotion and Behavior, University of Georgia, 300 River Road, Ramsey 308, Athens, GA 30602, 706 542-4364, mwilson@coe.uga.edu, (2) Management, College of Business, University of Georgia, Brooks Hall, Athens, GA 30602-6256, (3) Health Promotion & Behavior, University of Georgia, 300 River Road, Ramsey 216, Athens, GA 30602

Strong evidence points toward the worksite and work experience as being factors that influence health and well-being. Consequently, more organizations are initiating activities to foster a healthy work environment, in addition to nurturing health promotion efforts. These initiatives are similar to those currently being supported in community settings and are designed to build capacity for health and health promotion. The purpose of this presentation is to document the results of a study of one capacity-building process which was implemented and tested in a large retail organization. This presentation will share results from the ACT Project - a large worksite intervention study conducted in a national retail organization. The primary purpose of the project was to intervene to create a healthy work organization which in turn will foster health-related initiatives. A team-based problem-solving process was used to develop, implement, and evaluate a customized action plan which would address those issues most important to employees and the organization. The process was designed to build capacity for action by facilitating participation, communication, and empowerment among all employees at the worksite. Both quantitative (employee surveys and organizational data) and qualitative (employee interviews and focus groups of the teams) data was collected pre, during, and post intervention to evaluate the process as well as the impact of the intervention. Preliminary analyses showed positive pre/post effects for several indices of organizational climate for sites receiving the intervention. The intervention sites also showed low level of stress and improved health status. These effects seemed to be stronger in workers of color.

Learning Objectives:

• By the end of the session, participants will be able to discuss the importance of capacity building in work organizations.
• By the end of the session, participants will be able to delineate a specific process for building capacity in an organization.

Keywords: Worksite, Intervention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.