Abstract

Recent trends in worksite health promotion have placed greater emphasis on the worksite as the focus of intervention. Using social ecology as a theoretical framework for this initiative, a sample of New York State employers completed an environmental audit, and then received technical support from state-funded contractors to implement workplace changes that encourage heart-healthy behaviors. The assessment, which measured organizational policies, services, facilities and administrative structures, was repeated at program conclusion and again 3 years later. Analysis compared the number and types of possible attributes available at each worksite over time. At program completion, the mean number of heart-health supporting attributes among all worksites increased significantly (p = .01). Three years after the program ended, the average levels of attributes decreased and several remained significantly higher than at baseline (p = .01). Analysis indicated that the sustained improvements were concentrated on nutrition and physical activity resources – the constructs most emphasized in the study. The extent to which supports in other areas persisted varied for different sub-components. One noteworthy finding was the drop in certain administrative supports. This finding may partly explain the overall drop in resources across all areas. In summary, a relatively low cost, public health initiative can successfully increase and sustain a number of worksite attributes supporting heart-healthy behaviors among employees. Emphasis on administrative support features may further enhance the maintenance of these environmental change outcomes.