Transcript Document

The analysis of a corporate
physical activity intervention:
A group-mediated cognitive-behavioral
case study.
Lynn Kabaroff, MHK
Laurentian University
Mark Eys, Ph.D.
Wilfrid Laurier University
Physical Activity, Workplace Wellness
and the Corporate Environment
• There are physical and psychological benefits of PA (The
Public Health Agency of Canada, 2007), however the Canadian
population is not active enough to realize these benefits
(Godin et al.,1983; Statistics Canada, 2006)
• Economic impact of inactivity on the Canadian economy
was estimated at $5.3 billion, or 2.6% of the 2001 total
health care costs (Statistics Canada, 2007)
• Wellness programs have positive effects for both
employees’ physical/ mental health and work performance
(Voit, 2000), and monetary savings for the corporation (Public
Health Agency of Canada, 2004)
The Group-Mediated, Cognitive
Behavioral (GMCB) Approach
• Based on group dynamics principles to “develop group
formation and identity, create the group’s common
motivational base, and establish exercise and
adherence expectancies that [are] of consequence to
the group”(Brawley, Rejeski & Lutes, 2000)
• 12-week program including discussion and PA
• Previously successful with:
- asymptomatic older adults (Brawley et al., 2000)
- symptomatic older adults (Brawley, Rejeski, & King, 2003; Focht
et al., 2004; Rejeski et al., 2002; Rejeski et al., 2003)
- post-natal mothers (Cramp & Brawley, 2006)
GMCB Outline
1.
Promotion and
development of group
identity
2.
Self-monitoring and the
buddy system
3.
Individual and group goal
setting, dealing with
failure
4.
5.
6.
The ‘independent
exerciser’, stages of
change concept, barriers
and strategies
Increasing active time by
breaking up sedentary
time
Replacing sedentary
behaviours with active
living
7.
Recognition of ‘active’
people
8.
Encouragement of more
systematic independent
self-monitoring and goal
setting behaviour
9.
Environmental cues
10. Self-planned activities
and coping strategies
11. Relapse prevention and
coping mechanisms
12. Results of the group
goals and individual
goals for the next month
13. Booster sessions as
needed
Purpose
• To qualitatively assess the response to and
effectiveness of the GMCB program within a
corporate setting as communicated by the
participants
• Targeted sample of 20 “white collar”
participants (male = 17, female = 3) from two
departments within a corporate office in
Northern Ontario
Mixed Methods Data Collection
Quantitative
• Significant reductions in anthropometric
measures
– Body Fat % - from 21.32% to 18.50%
– Body Mass Index - from 27.23 m2/kg to 26.60 m2/kg
– Waist Girth - from 38.00 inches to 36.93 inches
• Weekly Fitness Log Books
– Increase in average frequency of PA from approx. 3
days per week to 4 days per week
Mixed Methods Data Collection
Qualitative:
• Focus Group Interviews
– Semi-structured interviews were all recorded and
transcribed verbatim
– Reviewed and categorized separately by two researchers
and any discrepancies solved by consensus
– Five key questions were focused on
• E.g., “What did you think about the corporate involvement in this
program? What changes, if any, would you like to see?”
• E.g., “Think back again to your experiences and participation
within the program and tell me some of the things that you felt
helped you with your own physical activity goals. What did you
feel were the strengths of the program?”
– Identified themes and categories were brought back to
the group for validation purposes
Focus Group Transcriptions
Corporate GMCB program
(305)
Context
(29)
Program
Positives
(86)
Program
Negatives
(33)
The
Corporation
(61)
Future
Directions
(96)
Team
Building/
Group
Decision
Making (6)
Group
Walk (18)
Increased
Awareness
(6)
Education
(19)
Lifescale
(3)
Access to
Personal
Trainer
(15)
Program
Positives
(86)
Log Book
Tracking
(6)
Group
Motivation
(3)
Individual
Approach
(3)
Buddy
System
(2)
Role
Modeling
(3)
Support to
Management
(2)
Supervisor
Support (14)
Facility
Flexibility
(10)
Company
Support (4)
The
Corporation
(61)
Company
Policies (5)
Meeting
Hierarchy (8)
Culture (5)
Gym vs.
Monetary
Reimbursement
(15)
Next
Steps (11)
More
Measures and
Accountability
(6)
Timing
(11)
Educational
Content and
Specific
Topics (17)
Gym or
Monetary
Reimbursement
(13)
More Staff/
Consultant
Allocation
(9)
Future
Directions
(96)
More
Organized
Group
Activities
(5)
Agenda
(4)
Smaller
Group (2)
More
Personal
Trainer
Time (9)
Health
and
Safety
Meeting
(9)
Discussion/Future Directions
Positive support for corporate GMCB program
•
Feedback from focus groups, group walk participation
Vocational team building
•
•
Magnitude and impact on performance goals
Improved lifestyle changes through mandatory staff
meetings
Conclusion
• The GMCB program can be successful at encouraging
PA and addressing health indicators within a corporate
environment and adds support to the existing GMCB
literature
• Could be used to address other health and wellness
issues and has the potential to aid in team building
within the workplace
• However, to have significant lasting positive results,
appropriate corporate support is key and some
program modifications (e.g., longer time period) may
be required to enable individuals to become selfsufficient (i.e., self-regulating) exercisers
Questions?
Thank you for your attention