Illinois Workplace Wellness Study
4 other identifiers
interventional
4,834
1 country
1
Brief Summary
Workplace wellness programs have become a $6 billion industry and are widely touted as a way to improve employee well-being, reduce health care costs by promoting prevention, and increase workplace productivity. Yet, there is little rigorous evidence available to support these claims, partly because the voluntary nature of these programs means that participants may differ from nonparticipants for reasons unrelated to the causal effects of the wellness program. The investigators will implement a randomized control trial to identify the effects of incentives on wellness program participation, produce causal estimates of the effect of wellness programs on health outcomes, determine what kinds of employees benefit from wellness programs the most, and test for the presence of peer effects in wellness participation.
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at P75+ for not_applicable
Started Jul 2016
Longer than P75 for not_applicable
1 active site
Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.
Trial Relationships
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Study Timeline
Key milestones and dates
Study Start
First participant enrolled
July 11, 2016
CompletedFirst Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
May 17, 2017
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
May 23, 2017
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
December 1, 2020
CompletedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
December 1, 2020
CompletedApril 24, 2020
April 1, 2020
4.4 years
May 17, 2017
April 22, 2020
Conditions
Keywords
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (20)
Wellness Program participation
Completion of biometric screening, HRA, wellness activities
First year of study
Wellness Program participation
Completion of biometric screening, HRA, wellness activities
Second year of study
Selection into treatment by baseline health spending
The investigators will compare the average observable characteristics of participants, relative to treatment non-participants. Average monthly spending prior to the intervention is measured via administrative health claims data.
13 months prior to study
Selection into treatment by self-reported health
The investigators will compare the average observable characteristics of participants, relative to treatment non-participants. Self-reported health is measured as excellent, good, average, or poor.
Baseline measure
Selection into treatment by gender
The investigators will compare the average observable characteristics of participants, relative to treatment non-participants. Gender is measured in administrative HR records.
Baseline measure
Selection into treatment by Age
The investigators will compare the average observable characteristics of participants, relative to treatment non-participants. Age is grouped into three categories: younger than 37, age 37 to 49, age 50 or higher.
Baseline measure
Selection into treatment by race
The investigators will compare the average observable characteristics of participants, relative to treatment non-participants. Race is measure via administrative HR records, as white or nonwhite.
Baseline measure
Selection into treatment by salary quartile
The investigators will compare the average observable characteristics of participants, relative to treatment non-participants. Salary, measured by administrative HR records, is coded into 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th quartile.
Baseline measure
Selection into treatment by self-reported health utilization
The investigators will compare the average observable characteristics of participants, relative to treatment non-participants. Health care utilization is measured by survey, with yes/no variable for: ever having been screened, prescription drug use, physician/ER visit in prior year, hospital visit in the past year.
Baseline measure
Selection into treatment by smoking status
The investigators will compare the average observable characteristics of participants, relative to treatment non-participants. Smoking status is measured via survey, with yes/no variables for: current smoker of cigarettes, current smoker of other product, former smoker, never smoker.
Baseline measure
Selection into treatment by chronic condition
The investigators will compare the average observable characteristics of participants, relative to treatment non-participants. Chronic condition is measured via baseline survey, and coded as a yes/no variable.
Baseline measure
Health Insurance Spending
Spending as measured in health insurance claims data
12 months and 24-30 months following study
Employment and Productivity
Promotion, job termination, sick leave, attitude toward management, index of these variables
12 months and 24-30 months following study
Health Status and Behaviors
Marathon participation, gym visits, health screening
12 months and 24-30 months following study
Height
Biometric health measures collected one year after study. Height is measured in feet and inches.
1 year following study, 2 years following study
Weight
Biometric health measures collected one year after study. Weight is measured in pounds and ounces.
1 year following study, 2 years following study
Waist circumference
Biometric health measures collected one year after study. Circumference is measured in inches.
1 year following study, 2 years following study
Resting blood pressure
Biometric health measures collected one year after study. Blood pressure is measured in mm Hg.
1 year following study, 2 years following study
Blood glucose
Biometric health measures collected one year after study. Blood glucose is measured in mg/dL.
1 year following study, 2 years following study
Cholesterol levels
Biometric health measures collected one year after study. Cholesterol is measured mg/dL. We measure lipids: LDL, HDL, and triglycerides.
1 year following study, 2 years following study
Study Arms (7)
Control
NO INTERVENTIONThe control group takes a baseline survey, and thereafter has minimal interaction with the project, until a follow-up biometric screening is conducted during the one-year follow-up.
A25
EXPERIMENTALGroup A25 is offered no compensation for completing a biometric screening and HRA, and low compensation for each completed wellness course in the fall or spring of the study. Interventions: Workplace Wellness Program, Biometric Screening/HRA - No compensation, Wellness Activities - low compensation
A75
EXPERIMENTALGroup A75 is offered no compensation for completing a biometric screening and HRA, and high compensation for each completed wellness course in the fall or spring of the study. Interventions: Workplace Wellness Program, Biometric Screening/HRA - No compensation, Wellness Activities - high compensation
B25
EXPERIMENTALGroup B25 is offered moderate compensation for completing a biometric screening and HRA, and low compensation for each completed wellness course in the fall or spring of the study. Interventions: Workplace Wellness Program, Biometric Screening/HRA - moderate compensation, Wellness Activities - high compensation
B75
EXPERIMENTALGroup B75 is offered moderate compensation for completing a biometric screening and HRA, and high compensation for each completed wellness course in the fall or spring of the study. Interventions: Workplace Wellness Program, Biometric Screening/HRA - moderate compensation, Wellness Activities - high compensation
C25
EXPERIMENTALGroup C25 is offered high compensation for completing a biometric screening and HRA, and low compensation for each completed wellness course in the fall or spring of the study. Interventions: Workplace Wellness Program, Biometric Screening/HRA - high compensation, Wellness Activities - high compensation
C75
EXPERIMENTALGroup C75 is offered high compensation for completing a biometric screening and HRA, and high compensation for each completed wellness course in the fall or spring of the study. Interventions: Workplace Wellness Program, Biometric Screening/HRA - high compensation Wellness Activities - high compensation
Interventions
Treatment group members will then be offered the opportunity to participate in a biometric screening and health risk assessment (biometric screening + HRA), and -- conditional on completing an biometric screening + HRA -- up to two, semester-long wellness programs. Treatment group members will be offered varying levels of cash reward for completing the biometric screening + HRA (none, moderate, high), and an additional cash reward for completing each wellness activity (low, high), for a total of 6 treatment cells. Follow-up surveys and biometric screenings will be administered one year later, among a subset of control and treatment group members.
The biometric test will measure: (1) anthropometrics such as height, weight, and waist circumference (to assess obesity and overweight status); (2) resting blood pressure (to assess hypertension); (3) blood glucose (to assess diabetes risk); and (4) total, LDL, and HDL cholesterol levels, total cholesterol ratio, and triglycerides (to assess risk of cardiovascular disease). The HRA is a survey designed to identify areas of health improvement, by asking a series of questions related to wellness, health status, nutrition, healthy activities, desire to improve health, preventative health measures. The HRA is also pre-populated with biometric information from the screening. Upon completion, participants are given customized feedback on areas of improvement. No compensation for completion.
The biometric test will measure: (1) anthropometrics such as height, weight, \& waist circumference (to assess obesity and overweight status); (2) resting blood pressure (to assess hypertension); (3) blood glucose (to assess diabetes risk); \& (4) total, LDL, and HDL cholesterol levels, total cholesterol ratio, and triglycerides (to assess risk of cardiovascular disease). The HRA is a survey designed to identify areas of health improvement, by asking a series of questions related to wellness, health status, nutrition, healthy activities, desire to improve health, preventative health measures. The HRA is also pre-populated with biometric information from the screening. Upon completion, participants are given customized feedback on areas of improvement. Moderate compensation for completion.
The biometric test will measure: (1) anthropometrics such as height, weight, and waist circumference (to assess obesity and overweight status); (2) resting blood pressure (to assess hypertension); (3) blood glucose (to assess diabetes risk); and (4) total, LDL, and HDL cholesterol levels, total cholesterol ratio, and triglycerides (to assess risk of cardiovascular disease). The HRA is a survey designed to identify areas of health improvement, by asking a series of questions related to wellness, health status, nutrition, healthy activities, desire to improve health, preventative health measures. The HRA is also pre-populated with biometric information from the screening. Upon completion, participants are given customized feedback on areas of improvement. High compensation for completion.
Courses are designed by the UI Wellness Center and include an Active Living class; self-paced online health challenges in physical activity, weight management, and healthy eating; a weight management class; a tobacco cessation hotline; a stress management class; a Tai Chi class; and a chronic disease management class. Low compensation for each class.
Courses are designed by the UI Wellness Center and include an Active Living class; self-paced online health challenges in physical activity, weight management, and healthy eating; a weight management class; a tobacco cessation hotline; a stress management class; a Tai Chi class; and a chronic disease management class. High compensation for each class.
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if:
- Benefits eligible employees at UIUC. Physically located on UIUC campus, not terminated, eligible for benefits.
You may not qualify if:
- Members of the research team, employees directly involved with the approval or implementation of the study, family members of the research team.
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
- National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.lead
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaigncollaborator
- University of Chicagocollaborator
- National Institutes of Health (NIH)collaborator
- Robert Wood Johnson Foundationcollaborator
- Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Labcollaborator
- W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Researchcollaborator
- National Institute on Aging (NIA)collaborator
Study Sites (1)
University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois, 60605, United States
MeSH Terms
Interventions
Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Study Officials
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Damon Jones, PhD
University of Chicago
Study Design
- Study Type
- interventional
- Phase
- not applicable
- Allocation
- RANDOMIZED
- Masking
- SINGLE
- Who Masked
- CARE PROVIDER
- Masking Details
- Professionals who implement the biometric screenings, health risk assessments, and wellness courses do no know the exact treatment group of study participants.
- Purpose
- PREVENTION
- Intervention Model
- PARALLEL
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
- Responsible Party
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
- PI Title
- Faculty Research Fellow
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
May 17, 2017
First Posted
May 23, 2017
Study Start
July 11, 2016
Primary Completion
December 1, 2020
Study Completion
December 1, 2020
Last Updated
April 24, 2020
Record last verified: 2020-04
Data Sharing
- IPD Sharing
- Will share
- Shared Documents
- STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP, ANALYTIC CODE
- Time Frame
- Data will become available by July 2020, and will be available indefinitely.
- Access Criteria
- De-identified data, not linked across outcomes, will be available to download publicly. De-identified data, linked across outcomes, which is necessary for replication, will be available via a secure computer terminal at the National Bureau of Economic Research.
Our study will collect detailed data on human subjects and perform several analyses using these data. These data will include self-reported survey data, biometric data, employer administrative data, and health care insurance claims data. Because our data are confidential and include protected health information, we can only share a de-identified version of the data. A statement is included on the study's informed consent form to secure participant's consent to make the de-identified data available to outside researchers. We will also provide replication code that will allow individuals to replicate all of our results. The public use version of our data and replication code for our analyses will be posted publicly on our study's website, which will be hosted at www.nber.org, as well as on the PI's websites.