The influence of worksite health promotion program management and implementation structure variables on medical care costs at PPG industries

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between critical factors for successful worksite health promotion programs such as management support and program implementation and health care costs at PPG Industries. Methods: We analyzed survey data from 37 PPG worksites measuring management support and program implementation. We estimated the relationship between management and implementation scores in 2007 and subsequent health care costs in 2008 using ordinary least squares regression. Results: High program implementation scores were associated with higher health care costs (P < 0.01) as were high management scores (P < 0.05). However, sites with a combination of high management and implementation scores had lower health care costs, while sites with low scores on these dimensions had higher cost trends. Conclusions: Employers should consider administering worksite health promotion structural assessments to identify gaps in management support and program implementation that may influence program effectiveness.